In a welcome break from the soaring prices and limited inventory that have followed the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Powell is getting four pickup trucks under budget.

On Monday, the council accepted a $231,537 bid from Fremont Chevrolet, GMC of Riverton for the vehicles. That’s nearly $6,500 less than what the city had set aside in its budget.

Because of supply chain issues, City Administrator Zack Thorington said it had been a couple years since the city sought new vehicles for its fleet, and a decision was made to seek four at once.

“Instead of one at a time, we noticed that other communities around the state are trying to just get them in bulk … to get a bid,” Thorington said, “and it worked.”

Fremont Motors in Powell also submitted a bid on the trucks, but the dealership’s $242,533 offer was beaten out by their counterparts in Riverton.

The electric, parks, streets and water departments will each get one of the new Chevys. They vary from a half-ton extended cab pickup to a 1-ton full size with a flatbed and snowplow; prices range from $47,796 to $75,318.

Given how much trouble the city has had getting bids, Mayor John Wetzel said bundling all the trucks together seems to have been a good idea. Had no companies submitted offers, a newly updated state law would have allowed the city to go out and simply purchase them, Thorington said.

Fremont Chevrolet, GMC is required to deliver the new trucks by May 15, 2024 or face a penalty of $50 per day. However, the contract specifies that Fremont “shall not be liable for damages because of fire, flood, strikes, riots, acts of God, or other delays, or any circumstances or other causes beyond [Fremont’s] control.”