Roseville OKs new trucks for DPS

ROSEVILLE — The Roseville City Council unanimously approved the purchase of several trucks for the Department of Public Services at its March 26 meeting.

The money for these trucks will come from the city’s water fund, according to Roseville Public Services Director Robert DeBruyn. The purchases were budgeted for the water and sewer division.

The first one approved by the council was a 2024 single axle, 35,000 pounds gross vehicle weight chassis and upfitting 108SD from Wolverine Freightliner-Eastside Inc. and Truck & Trailer Specialties Inc. The total amount came to $229,222 for the truck. The municipal bid was done through the Rochester Hills Co-Op Award Agreement.

DeBruyn said the department is trying to maximize the usage of these trucks. For example, the mild winter caused the city to use fewer salt trucks. Trucks, like the one approved, could double as a salt truck or a dump truck for things like dirt.

“We’re reevaluating how we’re spending money and how we’re purchasing trucks, so we’re getting use out of it all year round instead of just during weather events,” DeBruyn said.

Two vehicles for the water department, a 2024 Ford Maverick Super Crew XLT and a 2024 Ford F-150 Regular Cab XL, were approved in a second vote. The trucks were purchased from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso for a total of $69,727. DeBruyn said that the vehicles are used for smaller things — for instance, the Maverick would be used for going out to check meters — and are not plow trucks.

The vehicles were purchased from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso through MiDeal. The program allows cities like Roseville the ability to buy goods from state contracts. According to the state’s website, municipalities “benefit directly from the reduced cost of goods and services and indirectly by eliminating the time needed to process bids.”

In a third vote, the purchase of a 2024 Ford F-550 dual rear wheel and upfitting from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso and Truck & Trailer Specialties Inc. totaling $115,821 was approved. The municipal bid was done through the Rochester Hills Co-Op Award Agreement.

“This is in addition to our fleet,” DeBruyn said. “This is to eliminate a full-size plow truck.”

He said this would reduce the wear and tear to the City Hall complex parking lot that the larger salt trucks can sometimes inflict. It would be used to spread salt on the center lane during snow emergencies.

Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Haugh asked if this would bring the department “up to snuff.”

“Just about,” DeBruyn said. “We have been working with antiquated equipment for decades. … It’s really bringing us up to speed.”