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County ready to move ahead with equipment and vehicle purchases

By Howard B. Owens

The County Legislature is set to authorize more than $588,000 in new equipment and vehicles for the Highway Department after the Public Service Committee recommended approving the planned purchase of a flatbed truck, loader and 13 pickups, SUVs and sedans.

The biggest ticket item is a Hyundai 760-9 wheel loader from George & Swede Sales and Service of Pavilion in conformance with state bid specifications.

The loader will be paid for out of the road machinery fund over five years in annual payments of $38,894. The hooklift flatbed truck bed will be purchased from Cyncon Equipment of Henrietta for $59,953, and also paid out of that fund.

The 13 vehicles purchased will come from Van Bortel Ford in Rochester at a total cost of $334,615.

They are:

  • Two SUVs for the Sheriff's Office at a cost of $53,527
  • A 3/4 ton 4WD pickup for facilities maintenance, $36,515
  • 1/2 ton pickup for soil and water, $28,388
  • Full-size Taurus police vehicle for probation, $24,799
  • Four full-size Ford Fusions, $70,337
  • A van for animal control, $29,737
  • Two vans for facilities maintenance, $58,560
  • An SUV for Emergency Management Services, $32,771

CORRECTION: The hooklift flat-bed was not authorized for purchase.

Ed Hartgrove

Howard. Your post says the county is purchasing "Four full-size Ford Fusions ..."
But, every website I've seen concerning Ford Fusions lists them as mid-size vehicles.

Am I missing something, or, do they just mean they're buying full-sized mid-size vehicles?

Feb 18, 2015, 12:53pm Permalink
Jack Dorf

Ford Fusion is a Full size car according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Large Length more than 195 in. and wheelbase more than 110 in.

Midsize Length 180–195 in. and wheelbase 105–110 in.

Small Length less than 180 in. and wheelbase less than 105 in.

Feb 18, 2015, 3:25pm Permalink
Timothy Hens

Just for clarification, the bid for the Hook-lift Flatbed Truck Body was rejected as it exceeded our budget expectations. We will be re-bidding the truck body minus the hook-lift system and winch and go with a regular dumping flatbed.

The County does use the Fusions as Full-Size vehicles in our fleet. Ford classifies them as mid-size, but they dimensionally similar to many full-size vehicles. We also purchase the Ford Focus which is a smaller model.

Feb 18, 2015, 11:20pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Thanks for the update, Tim. Scott German mentioned that to me yesterday and I forgot to attach a correction. That's done now. Must have been pulled when I stepped out of the room to chat with the undersheriff. Sorry.

Feb 19, 2015, 6:04am Permalink

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