County of Brant council members approved the purchase of two vehicles outfitted for winter operations at the Administration and Operations committee meeting on Tuesday, February 15.
The report submitted by the County of Brant Roads Division stated that these vehicles are essential to maintaining the county’s road network.
The vehicles are expected to cost $635,330. The vehicles are to be purchased from Metro Freightliner, while the other winter control equipment will be purchased from Viking-Cives.
The vehicles include one single axle cab and chassis diesel truck that costs $128,270 and one 28,000 kg/62,000 lbs. G.V.W.R tandem axle cab and chassis diesel truck with a cost of $160,627. The winter control equipment will come at a cost of $170,125 for the single axle and $176,308 for the tandem axle.
Both trucks will replace vehicles that are at the end of their life cycles.
County staff said that delivery dates are not set in stone due to the ongoing supply shortages but they are hoping to receive the vehicles early in 2023.
“Rob Walton (County of Brant General Manager of Operations) wanted it to be clear that if we don’t take advantage of this now, we could be two years out before we can do this again,” said Alex Davidson, Director of Water for the County of Brant. “By that point, we could be looking at having to pay double for the same product.”