Columbus, Georgia

Columbus Consolidated Government

Referrals From Mayor and Council-09/17/2002















Subject Bucket Truck



Description Have the staff to provide a report, as to why it has taken almost a

year and a half to get the proper equipment for a bucket truck. (Request of

Councilor McDaniel)



Received From



Assigned To Rachel Buice, Rufus Riggs, Richard McKee



Please enter a date mm/dd/yy before any comments are added.

Response



One of Forestry's bucket trucks was taken out of service in January 2001 due to

numerous mechanical problems with the lift system. Based on the trucks age, a

1988 model, making repairs to where it would meet ANSI Certification Standards

was too costly. During the FY02 budget process, which was going on at that

time, a request was put in for a replacement. It was approved in June 2001 by

Counsel as part of the FY02 budget. Specifications were put together after

months of receiving product specification input from numerous vendors as well

as the Fleet Manager arranging for demo units to be brought to Columbus. This

allowed us to put together bid specifications to obtain a unit to best meet the

needs of our Forestry Division.



Bid requests were sent out in November 2001 with a due date in December 2001.

Bids were evaluated, a recommendation was made by the Fleet Manager, and it was

placed on the Council Agenda for purchase approval in January 2002. A purchase

order was received by the truck manufacturer in February 2002. It takes about

five months to build the cab and chassis, have it delivered to the body

manufacturer, mount the body and have the truck certified. There was a couple

of months delay due to a back log of orders for trucks to be manufactured prior

to new EPA requirements on diesel engines which goes into effect next month,

October 2002. These new emissions requirements will drive up the cost of

trucks (engine cost) by approximately $5,000.