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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A city council vote on Nov. 24 narrowly defeated administration's recommendation to spend up to $125,000 to purchase a roll-off truck for use at the dump - leading councillors on both sides of the vote to wonder if everyone was looking at the same proposal.

The truck purchase was voted down 4-3, with councillors Mark Heyck, Shelagh Montgomery and Kevin Kennedy voting in favour of the purchase and councillors Paul Falvo, Lydia Bardak, David Wind and Bob Brooks voting against it. Councillor David McCann was not in attendance.

"I'm absolutely baffled with these arguments here. It's beyond me how some councillors have turned the map that's right in front of us on (its) head," said city councillor Mark Heyck, referring to the memo administration provided to council.

In it, city administration cited proposed yearly savings of $10,000 to $18,500 if it were to purchase its own truck, which will move four bins within the landfill once the three-cell salvaging area is complete.

The money to purchase the truck would come from the city's fleet budget for 2008, which can absorb up to $125,000 for the purchase.

"There's no question based on the numbers we have here - this will save taxpayers money," said Coun. Kevin Kennedy, who also voted to buy the truck.

Comparatively, the same documentation from administration calculated costs to use the city's current waste management contractor to move the bins - there are four - which it pegged at $72,600 annually under the contractor's current rate and $43,560 at a discounted rate.

The memo also mentioned the contractor wouldn't be available after 2:30 p.m., an early close time which wouldn't suit the city's needs.

Compared to costs for contracted work, added Heyck, the purchase of the truck had "clear cost savings to the city."

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery agreed, saying she was "somewhat perplexed" by some councillors' arguments against the purchase.

Councillors who voted against the proposal to buy the truck pointed to information arising from the Nov. 17 Priorities, Policies and Budget Committee meeting, when Yellowknife's garbage contractor told the city the purchase was a waste of money.

John Oldfield, owner of Kavanaugh Brothers Waste Removal Services - the city's garbage contractor - urged councillors to use his services instead, partly because he's already under contract to provide them and also because he owns a brand new roll-off truck.

Oldfield told the city he would not charge overtime hours and would ensure he'd be available to move the bins at any time the city needed, contrary to information provided by administration to councillors.

He also indicated a willingness to sit down with city administration to discuss a workable rate.

Coun. David Wind suggested city administration take Oldfield's offer. He gave notice of intent for a motion directing administration to negotiate the contract with the contractor.

City councillors who voted against the purchase also voiced concerns that the truck would cost more money in the long run.

"In my mind," said Coun. Bob Brooks, the purchase "would cost us more money."

Brooks said he envisioned the truck use increasing as the three-cell system got busier, prompting city administration to request more staff.

While public works director Dennis Kefalas denied this would be the case, Brooks was not the only councillor to voice concerns the savings wouldn't last long.

Coun. Lydia Bardak said she could see the "savings of $10,000 to $18,000 quickly being eaten up."

So far, said Wind, the city is "just putting its toe in the water" as far as the three-cell system went and was concerned the total costs as years went on - especially if the single truck became insufficient - were not identified.