Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week declared eight trucks as surplus, with the intent of cutting its vehicle fleet due to layoffs and the resulting lack of drivers.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said Fleet Manager Barry Birge “identified some vehicles we don’t need,” and staff “recommended the board offer them to other public agencies, the public, and then lastly to the public,” per new AWA surplus policy approved in March.

President Don Cooper asked how they estimated the value, and if they ever took surplus vehicles to utility auctions. Birge said he looked into auctions that last year, but has not gone into that practice. Mancebo said there has been some interest in the vehicles shown by the city of Plymouth.

Mancebo said they determine the value using the Kelley Blue Book, the condition of the vehicle, and repairs needed. Birge said mileage is also looked at. He said “we are down on drivers” and “I would have to keep them maintained,” so it would be “better to let them go.” He said he would keep five spares, “one vehicle for each department,” so “I have five spare vehicles sitting there waiting to go.”

He said the eight trucks recommended for designating as surplus property are “all in pretty good condition, except for one that dropped a transmission. It would cost more to repair than it’s worth.” The board approved the surplus designation, 5-0.

The oldest of the surplus trucks are two 1996 Ford F-250 4X4. Three others are 4x4s, including two 2001 Doge Ram 2500s and a 2000 Chevy 1-ton. The list also included two ’98 Rangers (one with the dropped transmission) and a ’99 Chevy S-10.

The AWA board of directors in March approved a change to agency policy so that surplus property will first be offered for sale to other public agencies, then to the general public, and finally to Agency employees.

Mancebo said last week that “previously, Agency employees had the first opportunity to bid on surplus property. The Agency’s auditing consultant and the AWA policies committee recommended the change to avoid the perception of preferential bidding on used Agency equipment and vehicles.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.