By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
The City of Mount Pearl is buying six new tandem trucks at a cost of nearly $2.5 million plus tax.
Council approved the purchase order at its July 21 public meeting.
The tender was awarded to Royal Freightliner Inc., the lowest qualified bidder in the amount of $409,574, plus tax, per truck. The tender met all requested specifications and will include mounted salt bodies, front snow blades, wings and 50-ton pintle hitches.
"The cost is atrocious, but it is what it is," said Mayor Dave Aker.
The City had five bids when the tender closed June 10, with the other cost per truck proposals weighing in at $423,000 from Harvey & Company Ltd., $468,410 from Western Star Trucks Newfoundland Limited, $475,000 from ENCO Inc., and $481,900 from Nova Enterprises Ltd.
No funding is currently allocated for the purchase, so the expenditure will be budgeted through future capital funding when the vehicles are delivered within the next couple of years.
"To order any large equipment now is 18-24 months (to deliver), so it’s good to get on this early,” said councillor Isabelle Fry in presenting the item to council.