JOHNSTOWN - The Common Council awarded a $94,366 low bid for a new city Fire Department utility-bucket truck Monday at City Hall.
The department is in need of such a truck, and sealed written bids were opened Thursday. Of the three bids received, the lowest was for $94,366 from Altec Inc., which the council accepted. Other bids came in at $95,972 and $98,900.
The council authorized Mayor Sarah Slingerland to execute a contract with Altec to purchase the vehicle.
First Ward Councilwoman Cindy Lakata, the council's public safety liaison, said Fire Chief Bruce Heberer was happy with the low bid.
"It came in a lot lower than we planned," she said. "That's always good."
When Heberer first submitted capital requests to the city this summer, he estimated the utility truck may cost about $165,000.
The city is financing the truck this year by borrowing money rather than including the purchases in the city's proposed 2013 budget.
Roof work
In his regular monthly report to the council, Heberer said work to install the Fire Department's new roof on North Perry Street has been completed after some delays in recent weeks due to poor weather. The city also is borrowing for the project, which was done by Western Contractors of Gloversville for about $50,000.
Heberer also reported a new Fire Department pickup truck was delivered and is being fitted by Wilde Fire Equipment Co. of Mayfield.
The fire chief said his firefighters just finished servicing all of its vehicles as part of regular maintenance.
Heberer said his department has been doing several ward sweeps for code enforcement violations. He urged city residents to get rid of their unsightly garbage before the winter season begins.