SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Spearfish City Council has approved the early purchase of several major public works vehicles and pieces of equipment as the city works to replace an aging fleet and avoid rising costs.
The purchases, which are included in the city’s 2027 budget, include a new plow and dump truck, a dump truck, a front-end loader, a sewer camera van and a sewer jet-vac truck. Public Works Director Adam McMahon said ordering the equipment now could reduce delivery delays and help the city avoid future price increases.
Among the purchases are a $273,000 plow truck replacing a 2002 model that failed a recent inspection, a $207,000 dump truck replacing a 1999 vehicle, and a nearly $293,000 front-end loader replacing equipment that dates back to 1994.
The council also approved more than $880,000 in sewer equipment, including a camera van used for sewer inspections and a jet-vac truck used to clean underground pipes. City officials say the current equipment has become unreliable and requires frequent repairs.
McMahon told council members that several city vehicles are well past their recommended replacement dates, with some trucks more than 30 years old and dozens of fleet vehicles over 20 years old. He said the new equipment will help maintain city infrastructure and extend the life of public works systems.
City officials will continue reviewing fleet needs and may consider additional vehicle purchases in the future.
