City council OKs $1.7 million fleet purchase

The city of Ocala is purchasing two sandbag machines to help combat flooding. This image may not be an exact replica of the equipment ordered. [Photo courtesy Burcham Baggers]

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Posted March 23, 2026 | By Jamie Berube, [email protected]

The Ocala city Council on March 17 agreed to spend more than $1.7 million to buy 15 vehicles and specialized equipment including two machines that taxpayers may truly appreciate: a pothole patcher and two machines that each can fill more than 1,250 sandbags per hour to help protect property before a storm and reduce the need for manual labor.

According to Ocala Public Information Officer Greg Davis, the acquisitions include the following items and funding sources:

• One International 6×4 with 18-yard dump body and one International MV with Bergkamp Asphalt Pothole Patcher for Public Works/Streets, $164,187 and $295,996 respectively; paid from gas tax revenues
• Two solar-powered message boards for Public Works/Traffic, $34,988; gas tax
• Two Ultimate Bagger sandbag machines for Recreation & Parks, $93,400; from general fund revenues
• Two International Clam Trucks with Route Assist for Public Works/Sanitation, $522,306; paid out of the enterprise fund
• Two John Deere Gators with utility bodies for the Golf division, $27,397; from the enterprise fund
• Two Ford F-250 pickups with utility tool bodies and three Ford F-450 chassis cabs with 25-foot crane bodies for Water Resources, $578,056 total; from the enterprise fund

Davis said the expected delivery timeline for the vehicles and equipment ranges from 90 to 270 days. He also noted that repair and maintenance costs for the equipment will be incorporated into the respective department budget.

“This proactive approach ensures that each department is prepared to manage future upkeep costs, allowing for effective planning and sustained operational reliability,” he explained.

“The two Ultimate Bagger machines, approved via a policy exception as the best-value option, can generate more than 1,250 sandbags per hour. This remarkable efficiency ensures that sandbags are available quickly when needed to combat flooding, enabling the city to respond to emergencies with greater speed and reliability. Beyond accelerating sandbag production, the automated process significantly reduces the reliance on manual labor. As a result, city staff are freed up to concentrate on other critical tasks during emergencies, which helps maximize the effectiveness of overall response efforts,” Davis noted.

According to ultimatebagger.com, an Ultimate Bagger is an automated sandbag-filling machine designed for high-volume emergency use that fills bags with sand from a large hopper using dual agitators for consistent flow, compacts the material and automatically sews the bags closed. It includes features like a programmable digital control panel, pneumatic bag clamps and an optional on-board generator for reliable operation during power outages or remote flood response.

Davis described the benefits of other key pieces of equipment.

“The versatile International/Peterson Clam-Route Assist is designed with features of a refuse rear loader and a grapple boom loader. This unit is equipped with a specialized debris hopper that enables crews to quickly process small piles of residential waste, and a powerful four-foot grapple claw designed to manage large and cumbersome bulk debris with ease into a 30-yard dump body, enabling crews to transport substantial loads in a single trip. By combining these advanced capabilities, this equipment significantly boosts productivity, expands operational capacity and reduces the number of trips needed for debris removal, ultimately optimizing the city’s waste management operations,” Davis said.

He also elaborated on features of the pothole patcher.

“The International/Bergkamp FP5 Asphalt Pothole Patcher has many advanced features. Its electric hopper maintains asphalt at the optimal temperature throughout the repair process, effectively replacing traditional propane heating methods. This shift not only reduces overall energy costs but also significantly improves safety conditions for work crews by eliminating hazardous fuel requirements.

“The FP5 model enables a streamlined two-person crew to operate efficiently. This optimization translates into enhanced productivity, allowing Public Works crews to accomplish more repairs with fewer personnel. The FP5’s compressed emulsion spray-injection system is more reliable, does not get clogged and consistently produces smooth high-quality results with fewer resources, ultimately strengthening the city’s infrastructure and delivering tangible benefits to the entire community,” he said.

The Ford chassis cabs are outfitted with specialized service bodies and cranes, providing Water Resources teams with the capability to efficiently maintain and repair vital components of the city’s water infrastructure, Davis said.

“These vehicles support a wide range of essential tasks, including well maintenance, sewer line repairs, lift station service and upkeep of treatment plants. By equipping crews with the right tools for the job, these chassis cabs help ensure reliable and effective management of the city’s water systems,” he offered.

All purchases used existing cooperative contracts, bypassing a standalone bidding process, according to Davis.

“Cooperative purchasing agreements offer significant advantages to the city and other local governments by leveraging collective buying power. Through multiagency competitive solicitations, the city is able to access better pricing and more favorable contract terms than would be possible if negotiating independently. This collaborative strategy not only makes the procurement process more efficient but also drives down overall costs, enhances administrative productivity and guarantees access to top-quality products and services while complying with Chapter 287, Florida Statutes, governing the purchase of products and services,” he said.

To learn more, go to ocalafl.gov

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