HomeMy WebLinkAbout15.C.3. Authorize Retaining Truck No. 18 for Emergency Snow Plowing Purposes
IS: C. :3
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CITY OF SHAKOPEE
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor & City Council CONSENT
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
Bruce Loney, Public Works Director
FROM: Michael Hullander, Public Works Supervisor
SUBJECT: Retaining Truck #108 as a standby vehicle for Emergency Snow Plowing
purposes
DATE: August 17, 2004
INTRODUCTION:
Public Works is requesting to retain truck #108, a 1992 Ford LN 8000 Single Axle Dump
Truck. This truck has been replaced with a 2003 Sterling Dump Truck, our request is to
retain this vehicle and use it only for emergency use in the event a main line plow truck
breaks down and cannot be repaired for immediate use.
BACKGROUND:
Public works staff has been considering retaining a vehicle for emergency purposes for
quite some time but never brought this request forward due to Council's direction that
when a vehicle is replaced, because of its condition, the vehicle must be sold at auction.
Staff has always felt that to prevent a delay in service to the public it would be
advantageous to retain one replaced plow truck for emergency purposes. Due to the
condition of this vehicle the keys will be controlled by fleet maip.tenanceto ensure this
truck is used only for emergency purpose.
There are three factors staff would like council to consider in this request:
1. Lloyd Pauly of Short, Elliot, Hendrickson Inc., the consultant the Public Works
Department hired for a reorganization and operations study suggested staff retain
a vehicle as this is considered "Best Practices" for emergency purposes in snow
plowing operations.
2. The expected service life of plow trucks has increased from 10 years to 15 years.
The longer these trucks are retained the probability of a major breakdown
mcreases.
3. Average length of plow routes for cities run 10 to 15 centerline miles. Route
lengths vary due to the number of lanes and width of the streets. Shakopee
currently has nine main line plow routes and a large amount of 4 lane roadways
and wider street standards than most cities. Cities that have standards of30' or
less assign routes up to 15 centerline miles. Routes that have a large number of 4
lane roadways or wider street standards are usually around 10 centerline miles.
Although Shakopee is unique with our wider road standards we average 15.4
miles per vehicle. If there is a major breakdown in one or more of the trucks a
long interruption in service will occur.
AL TERNA TIVES:
1. Move to allow staff to retain truck #108 until the next truck becomes due for
replacement so that staff will always have an emergency standby vehicle.
2. Deny the request.
3. Table for additional information.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends alternative # 1.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Move to authorize Public Works to retain truck #108 until the next truck becomes due for
replacement in order that Public Works will continue to .bave an emergency standby
vehicle.
Michael Hullander
Public Works Supervisor
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