Brewin on pricey new garbage truck: ‘I’d just as soon buy Canadian’

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Feb. 24, Taber town council had a decision to make about a price increase to the new garbage truck the Town was intending to purchase this year. As a 2025 capital project equipment purchase, the automated truck was expected to cost $250,000 from reserves and $100,000 from LGFF (Local Government Fiscal Framework) for a total of $350,000.

 Submissions to the Town’s request for proposal (RFP) following the procurement policy confirmed prices had gone up significantly since last year’s inquiries when setting the budget, the administration said. Additionally, a further increase may be pending if and when tariffs are implemented.

 Council was given two options: to increase the truck budget by $75,000 taken from the capital reserves, or to cancel the purchase and make do with Taber’s current fleet of two trucks. Public works maintains two residential collection trucks, the main unit and a backup to ensure there is continuity of service to town residents.

 Director of planning, engineering, and operations, Chris Eagan, told council that the primary truck is the Town’s “new one,” and is seven years old. The secondary backup truck is 12 years old.

 “The purchase of this truck will allow us to retire the backup truck and move our current primary truck into that backup role. That will allow us to maintain our service levels,” Eagan said.

 With the Town facing a now $425,000 truck expense, Coun. McLean asked Eagan, “Do we not contract out our residential garbage pickup?” Followed by, “Should we be contracting out?”

 Eagan told her that the Town contracts out its compost and recycling pickups, but does its own residential and commercial waste disposal. As for contracting out garbage collection, Eagan said, “Part of what the Town does is we also run the transfer station. Together that’s the garbage collection for the town.”

 He said he didn’t believe that contracting out would be the best option for now, but told council that it could bring forward a standing item to request a case analysis to review the costs and benefits.

 Coun. Bekkering asked about the potential for tariffs to increase the price even further. Eagan said that because the unit is automotive with metal components, its assembly requires work and/or products from both sides of the border.

 Coun. Brewin asked if the truck could be solely sourced from a Canadian supplier. “I hope my friend Donald Trump’s not listening, but if we can buy Canadian, I’d just as soon buy Canadian.”

 Eagan told him that though the manufacturing companies were Canadian, the engine components may be sourced from elsewhere. They discussed the possibilities of submitting a new RFP or obtaining an invoice before the tariffs hit.

 The conversation went no further and Brewin made the motion to increase the budget by $75,000 funded from capital reserves. Council approved it unanimously. Eagan said the delivery time for the truck could be three to six months depending on production lines.