#10 - Vac Truck Purchase - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT DATE: 5/7/2024 CONSENT TO: City Council FROM: Marty Powers, Public Works Director AGENDA ITEM: Approve Purchase of Vac/Jet Truck REVIEWED BY: Clark Schroeder Interim City Administrator Clarissa Hadler, Finance Director BACKGROUND: The City of Lake Elmo Public Works Department currently utilizes a small 18 year old Vac trailer unit to clean storm manholes, frozen culverts, gate valves box debris and to hydro excavate around utilities. For the bigger projects Public Works either rents a combo Vac/Jet truck or hires contractors to clean lift station, jet a third of the city’s sanitary lines, Vac out storm water sumps, jet culverts and storm water pipe, unthaw frozen pipes, clean out debris from gate valve boxes, clean manholes and to bypass lift stations when needed. As the city’s water, sewer and storm sewer systems continue to expand at a fast rate we are seeing more and more of a need to maintain the utilities in a time sensitive manner. The addition of a VAC/JET combo truck would benefit the city by improving the response time to sewer backups, lift station failures or plugged/frozen culverts or storm water pipes. It would allow more frequent cleaning of lift stations, reducing plugging of pumps and excessive grease build ups. MPCA is mandating more annual storm water maintenance and inspections, this unit would allow staff to do the works in house and on our schedule instead of waiting for a contractor or rental unit to become available. The unit can safely and efficiently expose power, gas and communications lines reducing labor resources and potential damage to utilities. In an average year Public Works spend approximately $50,000 to $60,000 on truck rental or contractors to accomplish these tasks. With the expected growth continuing we will exceed $600,000 in rental or contracted services over a ten year period. The existing vac trailer unit is in service and in need of replacement due to age, maintenance issues and inability to perform jetting or larger vaccing projects. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council approve the purchase of a VAC/JET Combo truck as outlined in the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan and dispose of the current Ditchwitch Vac trailer unit? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Proceeding with this purchase will benefit the city and its citizens by replacing an aged piece of equipment with limited capabilities with a newer larger unit that is more reliable, more universal, that will improve efficiencies and response times. This purchase will aid Public Works in its increasing demand to maintain city utilities due to the continued growth of the city. A used unit was proposed to be purchased in the 2024 CIP, however after searching for over 6 months for a unit that would fit the budget and be worthy of adding to our fleet, Public Works is now recommending purchasing a newer Demo unit with very little hours and miles on it. The used units we have found available are in need of many repairs and updates.