Deputy Mayor Doug Laing, centre, chairs council's meeting Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

New purchase

New garbage truck for Town of Battleford

Mar 21, 2023 | 5:05 PM

The Town of Battleford will pick up the trash with a new set of wheels now that council has approved a new garbage truck purchase.

Three companies submitted a bid for the truck purchase.

When reviewing the bids, the town assessed each for pricing, availability, specifications, service, parts availability, and delivery time.

Council accepted administration’s recommendation to purchase the automated RH side-loading refuse truck from Superior North America for the price of $414,676, with the added PST, the total works out to over the town’s budgeted estimate.

Town public works manager Eric Bilanski said in his report the tender price came in at $14,556 over the approved 2023 total budgeted amount of $425,000.

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He added the vehicle is slated to be delivered in 2024, noting that additional financing can be included in the town’s 2024 capital budget for the overage.

“After delivery, we have one year to decide if additional warranty will be purchased. If so, that cost can be budgeted in the 2025 budget year,” Bilanski said.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais noted the high cost of these types of vehicles in the proposal.

“Holy smokes, they are expensive,” she said. “I trust Eric’s judgement in this, and I’m good with it.”

Coun. Judy Pruden said the town needs to stay abreast of all its vehicles’ condition.

“I’m glad that we are keeping our fleet turning over, so we don’t get stuck with a bunch of dilapidated trucks,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Doug Laing enquired whether the old refuse truck would be sold eventually.

Bilanski confirmed that may likely be the next step.

“We do have a lot of hours on there,” he said. “We really got our money’s worth out of that truck, trust me. So, I don’t know, but we would probably sell it.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow