SACO — The city is contemplating a private-public partnership for a facility to wash its vehicles.

City Council designated $350,000 in its 2017 fiscal year budget for the construction of an automated car wash facility that could accommodate large vehicles. According to City Public Works Director Patrick Fox, the replacement value of the city’s fleet, including school buses, is $14.5 million.

Fox said at a City Council Workshop Tuesday night that early projections had estimated a semi-automated car wash would cost about $650,000. However, significant city staff time would still be needed to completely wash vehicles.

A fully-automated wash facility would cost about $1.2 million, said Fox.

The city had discussed partnering with other communities to build a truck wash facility, but as it is unlikely that neighboring communities would invest funds for a facility built in Saco, city staff believes a private-public partnership may be a more viable option, said Fox. 

Fox said the closest known facility for washing large and commercial vehicles is in Kittery. He said he thinks there is a market for such a private facility in the area.

He proposed to the City Council that the city go out to bid to allow a private company to build a large truck washing facility on city land in the city’s industrial area. In exchange for the use of the land for a designated period of time, the company would allow the city to wash its vehicles at the facility for free or a reduced price. The truck washing facility could be used by private customers as well.

Fox said should the city decide to go out to bid and decide on a truck washing facility proposal, voters would need to be asked for final approval at a city-wide referendum.

Mayor Ron Michaud said he thought the city should put out a request for bids and “see what happens.”

“I think it’s well worth trying,” he said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.