Fontana Dam – One local municipliaty is continuing to work toward acquiring a new garbage truck.
At the Town of Fontana Dam council’s regular meeting held on Oct. 20, the council discussed plans to acquire a new garbage truck to serve the town. The truck would replace a vehicle that has served the town since its founding in 2011. The possibility of purchasing a new vehicle first came up in the council’s September meeting.
Town of Fontana Dam Mayor Rob Hardy said the town may be able purchase the truck under a state term contract.
“It’s mandatory for state agencies and institutions, universities, community colleges, unless pacifically instituted by North Carolina general statute to utilize this statewide term contract for purchasing vehicles,” Hardy said.
He said the system is also open to towns, counties and other municipalities on a voluntary basis.
Hardy said the prices would be at a significant, possibly wholesale discount.
“They contact with a handful of different dealers in the state,” Hardy said. “I think we actually went through Capital Chevrolet to purchase the truck that we got under the recycling grant.”
Hardy said that if the town was able to confirm that it would be able to use the state term contract to purchase the new garbage truck, he would be in support of it.
He also said he was looking at a Ford F-series with a super cab as a possible truck. The truck would essentially be a newer version of the current vehicle.
“I’m also of the opinion that if we could get a super cab eight-foot, four-wheel-drive, we’d probably be talking $26,000-$27,000,” Hardy said. “I was thinking that makes pretty good sense.
“They have crew cabs as well, but I don’t see a need for a crew cab.”
Hardy said the town could soon look at placing an order for the truck, with the expectation of 2-3 months of lead time.