by Tony Gray
posted 24 June 2021

WHITEHALL, NY --- Town officials are so sick of recurring engine problems on a 2009 tandem axle dump truck they are replacing it almost two years early with a 2021 International for $254,000 after a dump body, sander and plow with wing are added. The old truck, with just under 100,000 miles on the engine, will be auctioned and sale proceeds will be added to the highway department fund balance.

Town Superintendent of Highways Louis Pratt explained the early engine problems were covered by manufacturer's warranty but the current problem is not related to any previous warranty repairs so it's not covered. Since the warranty has expired, Pratt estimated it would cost $10,000 to repair the 2009 engine. "The engine problem wasn't from lack of maintenance," said Superintendent Pratt, "it was just because the engine has been a problem pretty much from day one. We sank money in it and money in it and it was just time to stop sinking money into a dead horse." He said he was afraid opening the engine for the needed repair might uncover other problems that might double the cost of repairs. Pratt added the town would have spent almost $5,000 to replace its brakes next year.

Pratt said the 2009 tandem was scheduled to be replaced soon anyway under the department's machinery update policy. He said it didn't make sense to put $20-30,000 into a vehicle that would be replaced in two years because the town wouldn't get that money back out of it. Pratt said he will be surprised if the town gets more than $20,000 for the old truck because of the needed engine repair.

"It would scare you the depreciation on a plow truck," Pratt said. "I hope to get $30,000 on auction but I just saw an '08 sell on there for less than $15,000. These plow trucks are worked very hard in the winter time. They're not abused; they're worked."

Town Councilman David Hollister said, "The one we're getting rid of has been a lemon for years." The Town Board's decision to approve purchasing the truck and accessories from Delurey's Sales and Services, in North Hoosick. Hollister was bolstered by a sharp run up in auto prices over the last year. "I suppose this Covid thing didn't help anything," Hollister said, adding "they're not readily available so that's one of the reasons we moved on the new truck. Delurey's had that one sitting there on their lot."

Hollister said the 2021 dump truck is the most expensive truck the town has bought but thought the town made a smart move to buy the new truck now. "The town is loaning the highway department the money to buy the truck," he said. "The highway department is going to pay the town back with interest. Basically, we're negating a bank and paying ourselves interest instead of a bank. We have the money available to buy the thing outright."

Delurey's President Jeff Delurey said the 2021 dump truck will be covered by a 5-year extended warranty that will include the engine and transmission. "They had some significant repairs that needed to be made to the old truck that wouldn't be money well spent," Delurey said. "It doesn't make the truck worth any more. To use it, they would have had to spend some significant money." Delurey explained he wasn't selling the truck. Whitehall is buying it from the manufacturer under a state contract. "I'm the dealer involved with helping them buy the truck but the payment will ultimately be to Navistar."

"This will not be an increase in future years taxes because of the vehicle replacement schedule," Pratt emphasized. "The way our plan is set up, we can buy this truck without raising taxes."

The motions to buy the HX620 SBA 6X4 heavy duty tandem axle truck cab and chassis for $140,875 and spend an additional $113,125 to add a heavy duty dump body, sander, plow and wing were passed unanimously at the town's regular May meeting.