The Wright City Parks Department is purchasing a new truck

By Jack Underwood, Staff Writer

The City of Wright Parks and Public Works Departments will have a new piece of equipment once they receive approval to purchase a 2024 Ford F-250 XL Regular Cab at the Oct. 10 Wright City City Council meeting.

Parks Director Stuart Bruning requested the truck because the parks department’s current vehicle had become dilapidated and he said he often had to use his personal vehicle for work.

“It would improve operational efficiency, safety and visibility in our community. As our department grows and we have more employees, the need for multiple vehicles becomes more and more important. In addition to our current vehicle, the new truck would serve a dual purpose: for both parks and, as you (Councilman Ramiz Hakim) pointed out, for public works, for snow removal,” Bruning said.

It is also planned to equip the truck with equipment for plowing and salting roads so that it can be used by the public works department during heavy snowfall.

“I think that what we have is not enough. Right now we have two trucks that are capable of spreading the situation,” said Kyle Roettger, Public Works Director. “The city is getting bigger as the settlements expand, we really need three to four who are able to distribute salt.”

Bruning said he also planned to use the truck for general maintenance work in the city’s parks, and a big reason for the size of the truck was that it could be used for transportation and use of the water tank to irrigate landscaping.

Board members acknowledged the need for a new vehicle was clear, but Councilman Don Andrews questioned whether the truck they wanted to purchase was the most fiscally sound option.

“I personally think that’s a lot of truck,” Andrews said.

A discussion followed in which both Bruning and Roettger explained the need for the vehicle.

Bruning said the parks department’s current truck is in disrepair and needs to be replaced soon anyway, and Roettger reiterated the public works department’s needs.

Total bidding for the truck was $78,061, with approximately $48,000 going toward the truck and the remainder of the funds going toward equipping the truck for road plowing and salting.

Bruning said he plans to allocate $18,800 from the Parks Department fund for the truck this year and borrow the balance from the city’s general fund. He said he would allocate just over $12,000 a year for the next five years toward general fund repayment.

The parks department’s funds were originally earmarked for the position of athletic coordinator, a position that remains open. Bruning said he had no problem prioritizing a truck over an additional employee and accepted he would probably shoulder the additional work himself.

“As we are currently happy with the maintenance staff that I have, they don’t always have a vehicle that they can use,” Bruning said. “And if they’re using the park’s vehicle, then I’m using my own personal vehicle, … And at this point we’re really at a point where we need to prioritize that first.”

The board would ultimately unanimously approve the purchase of the truck.