The Guelph-Eramosa Fire Department is purchasing a new tanker truck.
At the Oct. 17 council meeting, deputy fire chief Jim Petrik told council the department was requesting approval for the purchase of a $325,264 ResQTech tanker to replace the current 1989 truck.
“ResQTech makes a much more robust truck, which is of great value to us because as we go into our rural neighbourhoods the trucks experience significantly more wear and tear and probably experience harsher conditions than what you might see in a city truck,” Petrik said.
The 2016 budget had allocated $450,000 for the truck.
The fire department received three bids for the truck: Asphodel for $291,000; Dependable for $320,700; and ResQTech for $338,500.
However, the department learned the ResQTech quote included $13,236 worth of optional items the department did not require, taking the bid down to $325,264.
The department dismissed Asphodel’s bid because of issues with the company in the past.
“Fortunately we have internally rectified all of those situations … it’s a fantastic (pumper) truck with some unfortunate issues in terms of build quality that have been since fixed and the company has been billed back for warranty work that has since been paid.”
He explained that a truck specification comparison indicates the Dependable and ResQTech trucks are similar in terms of the engine, transmission and chassis. The ResQTech truck offered enhanced features.
“I think one of the main things that we saw is that the ResQTech trucks are built with double-walled extruded aluminum body, which offers a significantly stronger truck with more robust construction,” he said.
“I think that this will give us the best option for having a robust usable truck for an extended lifetime.”
Though the truck came in more than $100,000 under budget, Petrik explained the department will likely need close to the full amount.
“There is equipment that still needs to be purchased to put on the truck to make it a functional tanker truck, but we will still be under the $450,000,” Petrik said.
Guelph-Eramosa council approved the purchase.
