The Town of Bashaw will sign a new agreement with another municipality for flush truck services, offering the valued utility resource without having to purchase the expensive vehicle themselves.
The decision was made at the Oct. 18 regular meeting of council.
Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller presented councillors with a draft agreement with another municipality on flush truck services.
“The Town of Bashaw and Village of Rosalind have agreed to partner on a flush truck unit,” stated Fuller’s report to council.
She reported Town of Bashaw staff and some council members met with the Village of Rosalind to negotiate the agreement for a flush truck, a vehicle equipped to pump water usually with the intent of clearing out water or sewer lines.
Fuller noted the agreement spells out that the Village of Rosalind will buy and own the unit, described in the agreement as a 1999 Freightliner FL06 unit #11, while Bashaw will lease the unit on a regular basis, the lease terms are two weeks per year at the rate of $6,000 per week, the flush truck will be available for more Bashaw use if needed at the rate of $150 per hour.
Bashaw will provide its own staff to operate it and Bashaw Public Works Foreman Patrick Taylor will handle staff training, including authoring a “how to” manual.
Operators would need to meet basic requirements such as valid driver’s license. As well, it was noted the agreement will be sent to Bashaw’s insurance company.
The full agreement was provided for councillors to peruse and it was noted both parties agreed to review the document on a regular basis.
Mayor Rob McDonald noted Rosalind secured a grant to assist in purchasing the truck.
The CAO noted Bashaw would likely use the flush truck in spring and fall.
Coun. Kyle McIntosh stated, after looking at the agreement, Bashaw is no longer in a partnership for the flush truck and instead is signing a lease agreement. McIntosh stated Bashaw needed to look at training staff and also observed Bashaw’s flush truck budget was going to double from its current $6,000.
McIntosh further noted that it seems the flush truck was of interest to other nearby municipalities and he wanted to know who has the right of first refusal if multiple leaseholders all want the truck at the same time.
The CAO responded she suspected there was no right of first refusal but agreed with McIntosh that demand for this truck would be intense.
She observed that leaseholders using the truck don’t get operators with it and each municipality must provide their own staff, as Bashaw will do.
During discussion councillors asked how long training will take, to which town staff responded it should take one eight hour day.
Fuller also noted the Town of Bashaw has worked with the Village of Rosalind before and is very happy with the experience.
Coun. Bryan Gust further added the agreement needs to be reviewed and approved every year which would allow the partners to address issues quickly.
Coun. McIntosh seemed convinced. “I’m very happy with this,” he added.
Councillors unanimously approved the draft agreement with the Village of Rosalind for flush truck services.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
