Anchorage Assembly to consider $1.05 million snowblower to replace an 11-year-old unit

The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 17, takes up Mayor Suzanne LaFrance's request to spend up to $1.05 million on one self-propelled snowblower for city street crews.

The Alamo Group MPC-750 would go to the Maintenance & Operations Department's Street Maintenance division. It would replace an 11-year-old M-B Northstar snowblower that has reached the end of its useful life, needs increasing repairs and loses time to hard-to-find parts, according to the Assembly memorandum. The memo says self-propelled snowblowers maneuver better than a wheel loader with a mounted snowblower, especially downtown.

The machines are "particularly vital to snow hauling operations in the Central Business District," Fleet Manager Lee Lutkowski wrote in an Oct. 22 department memo.

Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area fleet levy money would pay for it. Delivery is expected by Dec. 31. An Oct. 20 quote lists one unit in stock in Eagle River, subject to availability, and more factory units available before year-end.

The city would buy from Alaska Municipal Equipment LLC through Sourcewell, a Minnesota government purchasing cooperative. Sourcewell sought proposals for airport runway equipment in 2022 and awarded the contract to Alamo Group (USA) Inc. That contract expires Feb. 3, 2027.

Sourcewell, manufacturer and dealer discounts cut about $309,000 from the $1.33 million manufacturer's price, leaving equipment at $1,017,119.03. Freight, warning lights, preparation and in-service support bring the total to $1,046,669.03.

The request follows a June proposal for $3.5 million to hire seven plow operators and expand contracted snow removal, aimed at clearing all municipal roads within 72 hours after storms.