FARMINGTON — Selectmen Tuesday night, Jan. 30, gave approval for the Wastewater/Sewer Department to spend $57,712.56 for a plow truck to replace one damaged in the December 2023 storm.
Two plow trucks and a skid steer were deemed total losses, with water halfway up the window in one truck, Stephen Millett told selectmen at their meeting last week. Accepting bids to replace them was tabled then in an effort to get additional bids and open the truck bids to brands other than Ford.
Millett presented two bids Tuesday, both from Home Auto Group in Farmington for the plow trucks, only one of which included a lift gate. One bid of $66,000 for the skid steer was received from Chadwick-Baross in Bangor, he noted.
Millett recommended the bid of $57,712.56 to replace truck two, which included a plow but not the lift gate. The lift gate can be put on later in the spring, is not immediately necessary, he said.
The 2023 Ford F-250 is in stock, would include installation of the plow and emergency light package, with delivery on or before Feb. 20.
Home Auto also submitted a bid of $63,781.84 for an in stock 2024 Ford F-250 that included installation of plow, emergency lights and lift gate to replace the other truck.
Since the last meeting, it was determined the plow and lift gates on the damaged trucks might be salvageable but the hydraulics would need to be replaced, Town Manager Erica LaCroix told the board. The insurance company said the town could retain one vehicle and auction it off and salvage those if it chose, she said.
Insurance would cover about $34,000 for one of the trucks, it was noted.
Wastewater/Sewer Department has $103,000 in the vehicle reserve account, more than $200,000 in the special project account, Millett said. He suggested the other plow truck could be replaced once the insurance claim was finalized.
Selectmen approved the bid to replace truck two, and tabled replacing the skid steer and other truck until it could be determined if the plow and lift could be salvaged. Millett expected to have more quotes at the next regular Select Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13.
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