The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety awarded quotes for two vehicles for the Street Department and three squad cars for the Police Department during their meeting Monday evening.
Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt reviewed the quotes opened at the last meeting and recommended the low quote of Oliver Ford Lincoln for a 2020 F-250 Super-cab pick-up truck at $32,056 including the $4,000 trade-in of a 1989 van. Marquardt did note that a quote was sent to his office and received the day after the city meeting by Auto Park Buick GMC.
The second vehicle was for a 4500 series truck chassis. Three quotes were received from Weirs Trucking, Country Auto and Oliver Ford. While Country Auto had the low bid by $1,584 they couldn’t get the transmission in the specifications for the PTO hydraulic pump and it doesn’t have the heated mirrors for the snowplow truck. Marquardt recommended the Oliver Ford quote for a 2020 F450 chassis for $40,315.
The Board of Public Works approved his recommendations.
Police Chief Dave Bacon reviewed the two quotes for three new patrol vehicles. Oliver Ford had a quote of $32,985 per vehicle and with the $4,000 trade-in of one vehicle the total was $94,955. Country Auto quoted $32,366 per vehicle for the Dodge Durango with a V-8 which is somewhat comparable to the Ford. With the $4,000 trade in the bottom line is $93,098. The Chief said the difference is $1,857.
Chief Bacon requested to go with the lowest and best fit for the city’s needs, the Oliver Ford quote. There were several reasons why the P.D. wanted the Fords. Last year the city purchased two Dodge Durangos and four officers who drive them do not like them. The seats are too fitted to make it comfortable to have the gun belt on. In fact he had to move one officer into a Ford due to issues with his hip. The top end speed on the Dodge Durango is at least 20 MPH lower than the Ford and the city’s mechanics like the Dodges. He said the battery in the Dodge is under the seat so if the battery needs to be changed they have to take out the rear prisoner cell to get to the battery. The gear shift in the Dodge is on the middle council where the radio and siren, lights, tablets and keyboards are located.
Since 2013 the city has purchased the Ford Interceptors because of the all-wheel drive. Equipment on the Fords would be transferable to the new Fords.
The Board of Public Works and Safety went with the recommendation of Chief Bacon for the Ford Interceptors.
