Select Board hears road report as crew seeks parts, contractor quotes and truck trade-in estimates

The Woodbury Select Board received a multipart road report on June 22 covering equipment procurement, damaged roads and maintenance challenges.

An agency official told the board he had dealer pricing for a new Ford F-350 with a plow, reporting a dealer quote of about $64,595. He said he would bring the town’s F-550 to a local dealer the next morning so mechanics could inspect it and provide a trade-in value. "They've got me numbers for a new truck... $64,595 with a plow," the official said.

Members discussed the equipment needed to outfit a pickup for winter operations, including that the town’s current sander runs on hydraulics while a new truck would require an electric sander and possibly other mounting work. The official said he expects more firm numbers within 24 hours after dealer inspection and trade-in appraisal.

On maintenance, the official reported finishing work on Wheeler Hill (hydroseeding and check beams remaining) and described significant washouts on Logtown Road from recent rain, saying much of that short road needs ditching, brush cutting and gravel to restore it to safe condition.

The board also discussed a failing roadside mower. The official said the mower's cutter-head bearings are scarce because the original manufacturer ceased operations and that a replacement bearing found so far costs roughly $700. He plans to call Bearing Specialties in Burlington to search for alternatives; if parts are unavailable, the town may rent equipment or consider contracting roadside mowing.

The board instructed staff to keep seeking bids, inspect trade-in options and return with firm pricing to inform any purchase decisions during the next budget cycle.

What’s next: the road official expects to have more solid pricing for the truck and trade-in values within one business day, and will report back to the Select Board.