Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – A local car dealer was among those winning bids for equipment for the Solid Waste Department and the Presque Isle Police Department during the City Council meeting held at City Hall on Dec. 5. Percy’s Auto Sales, of Presque Isle, was among those being awarded bids for vehicles for the police department. Percy’s will provide the police department with a V-6 2008 Dodge Charger for a total cost of $22,510. Quirk, of Bangor, will be providing the department with an SUV, after winning the bid for a 2008 Ford Explorer in the amount of $23,490. Council noted Carroll’s Auto Sales, of Presque Isle, was the only other agency taking part in the bid process. Percy’s and Quirk’s bids received unanimous approval from the Council.
Winning the bid for a landfill vehicle was Milton Caterpillar who submitted a bid of $355,656 after trade-in.
As part of the budget process, both departments had sought bids on equipment so that the needed funds could be included in the final 2008 budget figure for each department.
“We are committing to a 2008 expenditure. We’re doing this (the bid process) this time of year based on industry availability,” explained City Manager Tom Stevens.
Chief Naldo Gagnon continued the explanation, noting this was the time of year to order vehicles for the coming year.
“Ford manufacturing has a window of opportunity for purchasing. We just want to be sure we can get our hat in the ring so we can get a better selection, rather than what’s leftover,” said Gagnon.
When asked what the SUV would be used for, Gagnon said because it had a closed compartment, it could be used to transport the department’s tracking bloodhound, Hunter, and other equipment.
“We can use it to transport equipment – cameras, gear – it’s more versatile,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon wasn’t sure which vehicle currently in use would be replaced when the new machines arrive.
“When we get new ones, they go to primary vehicles. Older machines sometimes go to parking enforcement or some other use – whatever needs to be upgraded. We could turn an older vehicle into a detective’s car or chief’s car – a vehicle primarily used to send officers to grand jury, superior court or police training. Eventually the older vehicle is sold off,” said Gagnon.
Dana Fowler, director of the Solid Waste Department, advised councilors the landfill was needing to replace a compactor.
“It’s an expensive piece of equipment but we have money in reserve,” said Fowler.
What isn’t covered under the trade-in would be taken out of the department’s reserve for equipment purchases.
Fowler advised the Council that there was only one manufacturer and thus he’d received one bid.
“Caterpillar gave us a government discount. We have a 1999 Caterpillar unit we’ll trade in, with a recommended net trade-in of $340,366,” said Fowler.
Adding the extended warranty on the machine brought the final total to $355,656.
“That covers major drive train, power train components – covers the hours roughly we’d use in five years,” Fowler told the Council.
With a lifespan of nine to 12 years, the department’s present piece of equipment was nearing the end of its life.
“We’re at the nine-year point currently,” explained Fowler.
By the time the new machine will be delivered in 10 months, the old piece of equipment will be coming up on 10 years in use at the landfill. Fowler said the current machine was getting in the dangerous range – 12,000 hours of use – considering it already had approximately 13,000 hours on it now. According to Fowler, Caterpillar would take the old machine as a trade-in, then refurbish it and sell as a reconditioned machine or use as a rental unit. While the cost of rebuilding the unit would run around $180,000, Fowler told the Council a re-built machine wouldn’t have the lifespan of a new one.
“This is a very specialized piece of equipment and something we rely on. We can’t afford to have it down. When the new one comes in, they’ll haul away the old one,” said Fowler.
Although the bids have been approved, both departments won’t receive their new equipment until sometime next year. Solid Waste will receive the compactor later in 2008, while the PIPD anticipates receiving their units sometime earlier in the year.
“If we order the vehicles now, we can’t get them any sooner than Jan. 1. We wanted to speak for them now, so we don’t get what’s left over instead of what we want,” said Gagnon.
Council also voted on the following items:
* Approved a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license application for the Presque Isle Hotel Company, d/b/a Northeastland Hotel, 436 Main Street;
* Scheduled public hearings for the next two regular Council sessions in January to consider changing the name of a portion of Fort Street between Griffin Street and Maysville Street to North Street;
* Approved closing city offices at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24;
* Approved consent agenda of City Council meeting minutes of Nov. 8 and 19, 2007, and warrants 46 and 46 totaling $501,185.85; and
* Authorized the repurchase of property through quitclaim deeds to Curtis Culberson for property on Elm St. and Tyler Page for a property on Summer St.
Council will hold its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 at City Hall. Sessions are open to the public and citizens are encouraged to participate. For more information, call 764-4485.
