WOODLANDS COUNTY - Woodlands County councillors approved the purchase of four large pieces of heavy equipment, totalling over $2 million, during their March 27 meeting in Whitecourt.
The first was a 2024 snowplow-sander unit from Western Star Trucks, priced at $468,000, not including GST. Delivery is slated for December 2024.
Infrastructure director Andre Bachand said the municipality received four bids for the vehicle, only two of which met the county's specifications, the aforementioned Western Star Trucks unit and one from Viking Cives at $490,000.
Reeve Dave Kusch asked Bachand why two tenders (Diamond Truck Centre and Brandt) did not meet specifications.
"Were the specifications unclear in the tender, and what was the [criteria] that they could not meet?" he asked.
Bachand replied that one of the companies had units in their lot that they wanted to sell, and they did not meet the county's specifications in multiple ways. "The other, the main item that did not meet specifications, was the control unit for the sander/plow system. It is the same unit we have to replace in a truck because it is becoming obsolete, and only one technician is working on that system."
Backhoe purchase
Councillors also approved the purchase of a wheel loader backhoe from Rocky Mountain Equipment for $213,700, not including taxes.
Councillors also approved reallocating $23,700, which had been budgeted for the purchase of the snowplow-sander unit but wasn't needed as it was more than $31,000 for the backhoe unit, which was over budget.
Bachand noted the municipality received four bids ranging from Rocky Mountain Equipment's low bid to one from Superior North America at $281,800. The other bids were $249,900 from Finning Lift Boss and Brandt at $228,000.
He added that when it arrives, the unit will be replaced by a retiring unit, which the county will sell through a public auction.
"If it makes it," Bachand said. "It breaks down regularly, and the cab is extremely corroded."
Motor graders
Councillors also awarded the contract for two 140 all-wheel drive motor graders with a seven-year warranty at a combined cost of $1,324,000 to Finning CAT.
Bachand noted that funds for the purchase would come from the capital equipment reserve, and the county would replace those monies through contributions from the operating budget over the machines' lifetimes.
Compact loader delay
The council also delayed awarding the tender for a compact loader for a future meeting, asking administration for additional information.
Bachand added that the municipality received 14 bids from six different manufacturers, ranging from $91,000 to $131,300.
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