By Jim Bloch
The city of Port Huron will use purchases from two contractors to assemble a new salt and plow truck for the department of public works. The cost will approach $250,000.
The city council voted unanimously at its regular meeting April 8 to make the individual purchases necessary to construct the truck.
“On Feb. 8, 2024, the City of Port Huron received speculative pricing from the Rochester Hills Municipal Cooperative Purchasing Program for the purchase of a 2025 model year chassis (SA Freightliner 108 SD, 9L Cummins) as a replacement for vehicle #124 for use by the Streets Division,” said City Manager James Freed in his memo to Mayor Pauline Repp and the city council.
The sole bidder was Wolverine Freightliner-Eastside, Inc., of Mount Clemens, at $106,572. The Rochester Hills Municipal Cooperative launched in October 2013 and now has more than 60 members.
“In addition to the purchase of the chassis, on March 27, 2024, the City of Port Huron received the results of the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program bids for the up-fit of the chassis, which includes the purchase and installation of a Galion 11-foot 433 series stainless steel dump body, a Swenson 11-foot Dual Auger V-Box Salt Spreader, underbody snow plow, wing plow, front and rear hitch, lighting and electrical and all required appurtenances for use by the Street Division.”
The sole bidder was Shults Equipment, LLC, of Ithaca, MI at $142,989.
“Vehicle #124 is 2010 Freightliner M2 equipped with an 11-foot dump body,” said Freed. “This unit is used mainly by the Streets Division of the Public Works Department. The vehicle is used year around to pull asphalt repair equipment, transport debris from asphalt repairs, fill material for asphalt repairs, sand, gravel, concrete barriers, pull the rapid response trailers for road closures during police emergencies, special events and other scheduled traffic control needs.”
During the winter, the city uses the unit to plow snow, salt roadd and as a first responder during snow emergencies.
The dump body and salt equipment are 15 years old and in rough shape.
“(B)reakdowns and parts availability have become an issue,” Freed said.
This purchase includes a minimum full one-year warranty on parts and labor on the equipment, according to the city manager. The dump body offers a 3-year factory warranty, a 2-year warranty on the hoist, a 5-year warranty on lighting, a 5-year /100K mile warranty on the engine and emission system and a five-year unlimited mile warranty on the transmission.
The city had budgeted $360,000 for the purchase of two salt trucks. The high price of a single truck meant that only one truck would be purchased now.
The city last bought a salt truck, without a side wing, in 2022 for about $228,000.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
