City departments move forward on 2026 vehicle replacements

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety gave the green light Tuesday for several department heads to begin seeking quotes for new vehicles included in their 2026 budgets.

City Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson received approval to replace a 33-year-old 1993 Ford dump truck, while Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal will seek quotes for a replacement of his 2012 Dodge pickup truck.

Police Chief John Weir was authorized to pursue bids for three new squad vehicles allocated in this year's budget. Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt also received approval to seek quotes for two pieces of equipment from his 2026 capital expenditures budget: a replacement 4500 series dump truck and a new lawn mower.

Plymouth Fire Chief Steve Holm opened competitive bids for a new chief's vehicle during the meeting. Two local dealerships submitted proposals for a 2026 Ford Expedition Special Services Utility Vehicle.

Oliver Ford presented the lowest quote at $51,724. After deducting the trade-in value of $2,500 for the department's 2013 Ford Explorer, the net cost would be $49,224.

Rochester Ford submitted a bid of $59,995, but offered a municipal discount of $7,311, bringing the sale price to $52,684. Rochester Ford offered $3,000 for the trade-in vehicle, resulting in a final cost of $49,684 — just $460 more than Oliver Ford's proposal.

Both bids were taken under advisement for further review. Chief Holm will present his recommendation at the next city meeting scheduled for Monday, January 26th.