The city of Port Alberni will only be replacing one-and-a-half vehicles out of the equipment replacement reserve fund in 2016, if the proposal is approved.
“The first one is a 1995 Ford Econoline van. It was scheduled to be replaced six years ago but each year we do an evaluation on each equipment as it comes up and we’ve extended the life so far,” said mechanical services superintendent Wayne Cheveldave.
The van has 140,000 kilometres and is used by the city’s engineering technician. In response to a query by Mayor Mike Ruttan, Cheveldave said he would look into replacing the current van with an electric vehicle provided it was suitable for the job.
The second vehicle the city is looking to replace is the chassis of its 1996 GMC utility dump truck.
“We would like to replace the chassis only—the dump box portion is still in good shape.”
The city is also looking to increase ERRF contributions by three per cent in 2017 in order to make the fund more sustainable—something Coun. Jack McLeman isn’t too sure about.
“If we go to electric vehicles, can we not use our carbon fund instead of the ERRF fund and maybe not have to increase the three per cent going into the ERRF fund every year?”
Director of finance Cathy Rothwell said that the increase was still needed to pay for other large purchases.
“Say, a ladder truck at $1 million a pop or a couple of garbage trucks at $700,000. The electric vehicles aren’t going to impact the ERRF that much.”
reporter@albernivalleynews.com