Hamlet’s Street Department is getting a new truck. The town council voted Wednesday to buy a 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 HD with a dump bed from Schepel Buick GMC in Merrillville. The total cost is $41,351. However, council members decided to purchase a snow plow for the truck separately.
The town council had considered simply buying a new plow, but Council President Dave Kesvormas said the whole truck was ready for replacement. “It was determined that with all the other mechanical issues with the ’06 GMC diesel, it just makes a little bit more sense,” he explained. “It’s in line this next year to replace it.” Council members authorized the Street Department to trade in the old truck, depending on the offer.
Kesvormas explained that they tried to buy the new truck locally, but they couldn’t find a dealer with a suitable vehicle in-stock. “I don’t want to get a snow plow in March, so we looked elsewhere,” he said. “We found one available on the lot ready to go.”
He felt the Town of Hamlet got a good deal, overall. “We’ve been pretty frugal with our finances to do this,” he said, “and I think that a lot of municipalities are tightening up the belts right now at the end of the year, when we’re in a position to do something this year.”
Recently, the town purchased a new police SUV, as well as a pickup truck for the fire department.
