County approves truck, plow purchases worth $1.5 million

WELLINGTON COUNTY - County council has authorized the purchase of $1.5 million worth of trucks and plowing equipment.

At its May 28 meeting, council accepted a roads committee recommendation to purchase four new plow chassis, for $639,121 exclusive of 13% HST, from B & I Complete Truck Centre of Barrie; and four plow boxes/riggings, for $899,311, exclusive of HST, from Viking-Cives of Mount Forest.

The companies were the successful bidders in a tender process initiated in 2018.

The tenders include options for an additional seven-year contract extension as part of a tender process to purchase truck chassis and the box/rigging for the county’s plow trucks allowing the county to standardize its fleet.

The equipment is expected to be delivered in February of 2021.

Project postponed

Plans to replace a culvert on Wellington Road 32, north of Speedvale Avenue West in Guelph-Eramosa, have been pushed back to 2021.

Purchasing and risk management services manager Rick Bolzon explained in a report that just one tender for the project was received, a bid of $813,821 from Esposito Bros. Construction in Bolton.

The total approved budget for the project is $450,000.

“As a result of receiving one bid submission and being over budget, staff are recommending cancelling the tender with the intent to re-issue in the fall of 2020 with the works to be completed in 2021,” stated Bolzon in the report.

“From an engineering perspective the existing culvert can remain in service at this time without modification.

"It is anticipated that a fall tendering of the work will result in a competitive bid situation resulting in pricing more in line with budget estimates.”

Councillor Andy Lennox, roads committee chair, explained “no safety risk” would result from the delay.