City of Blaine’s public works department establishes fleet replacement program for aging vehicles and equipment

The city of Blaine’s public works department is establishing a fleet replacement program to help guide the maintenance and replacement of its aging vehicles and equipment.

As part of the 2020 budget process, the public works department created a fleet report, a living document that will be enhanced and updated annually or as needed. The report contains background about the department, a list of the vehicles in its fleet and a set of recommendations about what to do with certain vehicles that are leaking, rusted or worn out.

“What the report detailed was some background about the department, the age range of our equipment and what we will do with each of those pieces of equipment,” said Blaine public works director Ravyn Whitewolf.

Whitewolf said that her department has done its best to save money and get the most out of its existing fleet. “We’ve tried to buy used and extend the life of these pieces of equipment and vehicles far beyond what is typical,” she said. “What we see happening over the last few years is a change in how that’s managed. We’re trying to buy new when we can, and we’re coming up with alternative ways of funding what’s needed. We’re looking at leasing, cooperatives and working with other agencies to come up with the best value for the public dollar.”

According to the document, the department has about 40 vehicles in its fleet including pickup trucks, vans, sweepers, tractors, bucket trucks, dump trucks, graders and excavators. Some of the vehicles date back as far as 1979, such as one grader that has a leaking hydraulic system, rotted tires and an engine that is leaking oil.

“Public works vehicles are more than a simple means of transportation for our staff,” reads the fleet report. “They are used extensively for emergency response, outages, snow and ice removal and day-to-day operations. Moreover, these vehicles are ‘mobile offices’ in which our staff spend a significant percentage of their working hours.”

Employee safety is a top concern. “Some of the vehicles and equipment are outdated, lack upgraded technology and require constant and expensive repairs,” said the document. “Some do not meet the criteria to effectively and safely conduct the activities of the department.”

The department plans to implement green alternatives whenever possible. This includes the use of “flexible fuel” pickup trucks and vehicles that run on biodiesel or natural gas.

Separately, Whitewolf praised her team, including assistant public works director Sam Castro, for their response to the recent snowfall. “Our response this year was so proactive,” she said. “We stepped it up way more than we’ve been able to do in past years because of timing and planning and really good communication. It was very, very proactive and I’m extremely proud of my team.”