Rochelle Council Waives Bidding for Vactor Truck Repairs

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle City Council approved an ordinance waiving competitive bidding requirements for repairs to a Vactor truck used by the water, streets, and electric departments. City staff said the vehicle was taken to Standard Equipment after performance issues tied to a fluid coupler were discovered, and an inspection later found that both cooling fans were damaged and need replacement. Officials said if the fans are not replaced, the transmission could suffer a catastrophic failure. The city said Standard Equipment already has the vehicle disassembled, which contributed to the decision to proceed without bidding. The Vactor is used by multiple departments for routine maintenance work, and officials said keeping it in service is important for operations. The total repair cost is $41,104.76 and will be divided among the streets, electric, and water departments using cash reserves.