Bel Air approves purchase of two dump trucks, plans upfitting with FY‑26 funds

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Sept. 15 approved two Public Works purchases: a 2026 Freightliner 108 SD chassis for $127,827 and a 2026 Ford F‑550 diesel single‑axle chassis for $77,457.90. Both purchases use cooperative procurement agreements and FY‑26 Public Works budgeted funds.

Public Works staff explained the purchases respond to the equipment replacement schedule: the full‑size replacement will supplant unit No. 22, a 2013 International dump truck that has reached end‑of‑life. The town will piggyback on Sourcewell contract No. 32824DAI for the Freightliner purchase and on a Baltimore County contract for the Ford F‑550 purchase, both allowed under the town’s procurement policy.

The board heard that $265,000 was included in the FY‑26 Public Works budget for the Freightliner purchase and related upfitting. Staff said the $127,827 figure covers the Freightliner chassis; upfitting (dump body, plow, spreader, hydraulic systems) will add to that amount and is expected to consume most of the FY‑26 budgeted funds. For the small F‑550, staff expects to sell the outgoing vehicle on GovDeals and to receive an estimated $6,000 from that sale; sale of the outgoing Freightliner is expected to yield at least $10,000.

Public Works staff noted lead times for new chassis remain long and are estimated at nine to 12 months; upfitting will be scheduled with local vendors once chassis deliveries are confirmed. The board approved both purchases unanimously: Commissioners Rutledge, Chismar, Taylor, Chance and Chair Eddington recorded aye votes.

Use and operations: staff said the large dump truck will be used by the street section for hauling construction materials and snow removal and will be equipped with a 10‑foot aluminum hybrid dump body, a 10‑foot V‑plow, a Swanson salt spreader and a PTO‑driven hydraulic system. The smaller F‑550 will be fitted with a plow and salt spreader for use in courts and cul‑de‑sacs where maneuverability is needed.

Next steps: staff will place orders under the cooperative contracts, schedule upfitting with vendors, and plan for disposal of the outgoing units via GovDeals.