Athens City Council members could be spending about $85,000 on a new one-ton dump truck for the city.
The truck would replace one of the city’s current 25-year-old dump trucks, said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at Large, at last night’s City Council meeting.
“(The truck) is old enough that they thought it needed to be replaced,” Knisely said.
Several large pieces of equipment, including a heated bed, snowplow and salt dispenser, could be added to the truck, Knisely said.
The heated bed will allow for warm asphalt to be used in the spring, while the snowplow and salt dispenser will be used in the winter, she said.
“(We can) make use of the truck all year long,” Knisely said.
The city could also purchase a central hydraulics system, strobe lights and a stainless steel underbody toolbox for the truck, according to city documents.
Service Safety Director Paula Moseley is permitted to spend up to $85,000 from the Street Fund for the purchase of the truck, Knisely said.
The actual truck, a 2011 Ford F450, costs about $38,000, and the add-ons about an additional $45,000, according to the documents.
A total of $85,000 was authorized to allow for possible aftermarket accessories, according to the document.
The city hopes to buy the truck by next winter at the latest, Knisely said, adding they hope to use it for the winter’s snowy street conditions.
Knisely was uncertain whether the city plans to build or buy the new truck.
City Council has recently taken out a bond not exceeding $1 million to purchase a new fire ladder truck. The city had saved $640,000 toward the purchase of the truck and is using the bond to cover the rest of the cost.
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