BARRHEAD - County of Barrhead councillors approved more than $130,000 in capital expenditures for the public works and agricultural services departments during the Feb.4 council meeting.
The first item council approved was a steamer trailer from Pumps and Pressure at $44,744.50, not including GST.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said ordinarily, the item wouldn't have come before council as they had already approved the purchase when they accepted the 2025 capital budget in mid-December, but as all the quotes that came in were above the $37,000 public works set aside for the item, they needed councillor's approval.
Public works manager Travis Wierenga said the unit would replace the county's current steamer as its primary machine.
"[Steamers] are used to steam and unthaw blocked frozen culverts in the spring," he said. "In the summer, our seasonal staff use it quite a bit, taking it to our campgrounds to clean outhouses, so a lot of miles on rough roads are put on it."
Wierenga added although the current unit's trailer/steamer unit (constructed in 2006) is showing its age, the county planned to keep it in circulation to use as a backup or for less taxing work at the public works shop.
The municipality received two quotes, one from Water Blast Manufacturing for $46,626 and the other, which public works recommend, from Pumps and Pressure at $44,744. Both companies are Edmonton-based.
Wierenga said in addition to being slightly cheaper, the Pumps and Pressure unit had more features, had a larger capacity and delivered more water pressure.
Agricultural Services truck
Councillors also approved the purchase of a 2025-F550 4x4 Crew Cab chassis truck (gas model) from Barrhead Ford for $87,965, not including GST. Agricultural Services will use the truck as part of its spray program, replacing a 2008 unit.
Oyarzun noted the purchase was identified and approved in the 2025 budget. Although the purchase falls into the $90,000 budget, council needs to approve it due to a change in the municipality's procurement policy (Procurement Policy AD-007) approved in July 2024, which requires council approval of all purchases of goods and services above $75,000.
Agricultural Services fieldman Don Medcke said the municipality received four bids, ranging from the lowest being from the previously mentioned Barrhead Ford at $87,965 to a high of $100,219, also from Barrhead Ford, but was the more expensive diesel model. The other bids were from Stephani Motors and Courtesy Chrysler in Calgary, both being the 2025 Ram 5500 Crew gas model at $91,690 and $98,648, respectively.
Agricultural fieldman Don Medcke said delivery of all the vehicles except for the diesel, which Ford had in stock, was between three and four months.
Coun. Walter Preugschas said he was surprised that the other local dealership, Grizzly Trail Motors, did not submit a bid.
Medcke said they didn't because General Motors does not have a two-tonne truck in its lineup.
"Not in Canada anyways, one-tonne is as heavy as they go," he said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
