INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail is investing huge money in a new hydrovac truck that will replace an old model that was barely usable in the winter.
The cost for the new 2025 Freightliner Truvac Coywolf Hydrovac truck is $722,561.76.
On Feb. 10 town council unanimously approved a motion for administration to purchase the new unit from Joe Johnson Equipment, which has outlets in Calgary and Nisku.
Council was told the $722,561.76 is within the $750,000 budgeted amount and will come from the town’s Utility Fleet Capital Reserve and Fleet Capital Reserve.
Steven Kennedy, director of operations for the Town of Innisfail, told council the old model, a utilities unit, consumed 24,000 kilometres and 16,500 hours of work since 2011.
Council was told the old unit was used by the public works and parks staff to perform small jobs.
Kennedy said the jobs included flushing out sewer lines and vacuuming them out, as well as performing utility exposure for water valves.
He said it was also used on major digs for both water and sewer.
However, Kennedy added that over the truck’s 14-year service for the town there was $186,000 worth of repairs and maintenance work that had been done, including two rebuilds of the fan system and replacing the cyclone system.
As well, the main pump was rebuilt, and the head gasket on the rear engine was replaced.
Added to all that was the 2011 Freightliner did not perform well in cold weather conditions.
“This (old) unit freezes up very easily when it is cold out therefore it doesn’t get used very much in the winter as it wasn’t set up for colder weather,” said Kennedy.
The new 2025 unit, however, will be suited for operating in all conditions, council was told.
Kennedy said a request for proposals was issued last month and the town received four submissions ranging in price from $722,561.76 to $819,900.
The approved acquisition of the new unit will also include a budget of $10,000 for additional items (radio, mats, seat covers, tools, etc.) to be coordinated by town staff.
Following a question by Coun. Gavin Bates on the fate of the old unit, Kennedy said staff is looking to have it put to auction, although he could not estimate its current value due to its age and the number of hours used.
Coun. Cindy Messaros wanted to know what staff did when the old hydrovac truck was needed to address a problem during winter.
Kennedy said the town had to “hire out” that service.
“It starts to add up our operating costs,” said Kennedy. “But this (new unit) would then help us with that.”
And Coun. Jason Heistad asked Kennedy about the lifespan of the new model, noting he had hoped it would last longer.
Kennedy said the town’s strategy for the durability of heavy equipment is based on years, which is in the 15 to 20-year range.
“It’s a lot better than contracting that out every time we have issues,” said Heistad.
