BRUCEDALE – A fire truck purchase for Guelph-Eramosa Township is coming in under budget, even before the 2020 budget is approved.
On Dec. 2, council accepted a $744,208 bid to supply a pumper truck, allowing retirement of a 1999 vehicle that was to have been replaced in 2017.
“In an effort to spread out apparatus replacement cycles, and in consideration for reserve funds, the replacement of [pumper] P21 was delayed by three years from the original cycle in 2017,” said deputy fire chief Jim Petrik. The normal estimated service life of a fire vehicle is 15 years.
In July, council pre-approved the purchase of a pumper truck for 2020, allocating $750,000, allowing the tender process to proceed prior to approval of the 2020 budget.
There were two bids, one from ResQtech Systems Inc. for $799,500 and the other from Commercial Truck Equipment Corp for $744,208.
Council accepted the low bid, to be paid from reserves. After HST and a discount for prepayment in full, the final price would be $739,422.
Petrik said the fire department hopes to get $20,000 at auction for the old pumper.
