To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Acting Director, Facilities and Fleet Management
Prepared By:
prepared
Mike Borders, Acting Division Manager, Fleet Services
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presenter
Presenter: Michelle Halstead, Acting Director; Mike Borders, Acting Division Manager, Facilities and Fleet Management
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Subject:
title
2:30 PM *Approval to replace a heavy-duty vehicle lift for fleet services
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this drop-in is to seek approval to proceed with the procurement and installation of a new vehicle lift to ensure continued safe fleet maintenance operations.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Sustainable Growth and Infrastructure - Maximize use of County facilities and assets.
Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County Fleet Services, located at 7600 S. Peoria St., currently utilizes a 20,000 lbs. vehicle lift to complete critical maintenance work. This unit is the only 20,000 lbs. two-post lift in the shop, making it essential for all medium-duty equipment maintenance as well as daily light vehicle repairs. The lift is currently out of service because a cylinder retainer at the base must be replaced. Technical guidance from the manufacturer, Mohawk Lifts, indicates the required repair involves infield modification and welding. The impact of this equipment being offline is substantial, as the facility operates with one bay and one lift per technician; the failure requires shifting the workload to other technicians and finding alternative tasks for the fourth technician that do not require a lift. Furthermore, staff are currently forced to use floor jacks and stands for medium-duty vehicles, which poses significant risks regarding property damage and personal injury. While the proposed repair would make the lift functional, the manufacturer has explicitly stated that such a modification would result in the permanent loss of the lift’s ALI (Automotive Lift Institute) certification. Operating a vehicle lift without valid safety certification presents a liability and safety risk to County staff and risks the division’s professional certifications. Based on conversations with Risk Management, staff analyzed replacement options to maintain a certified and safe working environment. The department is requesting approval to procure a new Rotary lift from McGee Company for $38,025.34. This cost includes the removal of the existing Mohawk lift and the full installation of the new unit. If approved, a fixed asset number for the new lift would be assigned at the Q2 budget supplemental appropriation.
Alternatives: Staff could repair the existing lift, hiring a certified welder to cut and replace the cylinder retainer as suggested by the manufacturer. While this is the lowest-cost repair path, it results in the loss of lift certification, which is not recommended for long-term operational safety.
Fiscal Impact: The total fiscal impact for the recommended replacement of the vehicle lift is $38,025.34. This comprehensive quote includes the equipment, hydraulic oil, removal of the old lift, and professional installation. IG rents of $30,054.30 is available from the prior 2-post lift system (Asset #301331). FFM will cover the remaining balance from its operating budget
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A
Staff Recommendation: FFM recommends replacing the existing lift. the replacement of the existing Mohawk lift with the Rotary SPO20 lift from McGee Company. This ensures the County maintains a fully certified, safe, and reliable piece of equipment for servicing heavy-duty vehicles.
Concurrence: Risk Management, with technical guidance and repair analysis provided by Mohawk Lifts (Manufacturer) and Optimized Distribution Partners (ODP).