Twice this year Mother Nature dumped several inches of snow in and around Sedona. And while it was nice to look at, driving in it was another story. But the city is hoping that a new purchase will help to avoid Sedona coming to a standstill the next time a storm rolls through the area.
On July 9, the Sedona City Council approved entering into a vehicle equity lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for a Ford F-650 dump truck and snow plow.
“Having an additional snow plow will allow us to have an additional plow in operation during snow events,” City Engineer Andy Dickey said late last week. “This will mean being able to cover more area during these events.
“Also, the new snow plow will be much larger than the snow plows we have currently. This will provide the ability to carry more material in this plow, which makes our operation more efficient by reducing the number of trips required for refilling material.”
A staff report states that although most of the vehicles in the new fleet management program with Enterprise fall under the $100,000 threshold for council approval, the total cost of the F-650 truck and aftermarket dump body and snow plow exceed the threshold for council approval. It carries a price tag of $102,850.
Dickey said the city will make an initial down payment of $16,000 and the remaining payments for the truck will be spread out over the lease term of 60 months.
At the end of the lease cycle, the city will have the option to continue using the vehicle in the citywide fleet or can exchange the equity in the vehicle for a new replacement vehicle in a renewed lease — likely at a lower cost due to equity transfer. Enterprise will also provide a full maintenance program for all leased vehicles for a fixed monthly fee.
When not in use as a snow plow, Dickey said it will be used as a dump truck.
“This will allow us to haul our own landscaping material, dirt to and from excavation and fill projects, and cinders for ice/snow application,” he said. “We currently spend significant funds related to this activity.”
To operate the plow, city staff is trained in its use just before snow season.
“This will help to have more resources and to be more efficient,” Dickey said.
