By Jim Bloch
The city of Port Huron will spend $177,855 on new vehicles, three for the police department and one for the streets division.
The city council approved the four purchases without discussion at its regular meeting June 23.
The city will buy a 2025 Ford F-150 4×4 super cab XL truck for the police department and assign it to the Animal Control Division. The truck will come from Gorno Ford, of Woodhaven, and cost $46,458.
“The intent of this purchase is to replace #35 (animal control unit) of the Police Department,” said City Manager James Freed in his memo to Mayor Anita Ashford and the council. “This vehicle is extensively used as the city’s sole animal control vehicle, as well as assisting Police Department with other duties. The current Vehicle #35 is at 160,000 miles and has served its purpose, showing excessive wear and corrosion. The vehicle will be sold at auction on the Repocast website. The city will be using the MiDEAL purchasing program to purchase this unit.”
MiDEAL is the state’s purchasing arm, which allows cities, townships, villages, counties, universities, colleges and nonprofit hospitals to take advantage of mass bidding conducted by the state.
The city will buy two 2025 Dodge Durango Pursuit All Wheel Drive vehicles for use by the police department from LaFontaine CDJR, of Lansing, through MiDEAL. The two $43,343 vehicles will total $86,686.
“The intent of this purchase is to replace marked PHPD units that have reached or exceeded 100,000 miles,” said Freed. “These vehicles are heavily used and as they approach the 100,000 mile-mark they start to experience down time which could result in a shortage of vehicles for a scheduled platoon. The vehicles which are taken out of service will be evaluated to determine if there is a cost-effective secondary use for them. If it is determined that the costs outweigh the benefit, then they will be sold at auction on
the Repocast website. The vehicles purchased will be replacing patrol vehicles scheduled for replacement.”
The city will buy a 2026 Ford F-250 4×2 Styleside Pickup Truck for $44,111, also from Gorno Ford.
“The intent of this purchase is to replace #105 of the Streets Division,” Freed said. “This vehicle is a 2011 model with 106,000 miles on it and is starting to require greater repairs. The vehicle is utilized as a vital asset daily to aid in efforts to repair roads. The vehicle will be taken out of service and auctioned on the Repocast website.”
Gorno was the low bidder through MiDEAL.
The purchases were budgeted as replacement items through the city’s Motor Vehicle Pool Fund, which stood at $728,600 as of June 23.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
