The City of Aberdeen will spend $448,685 on a new sewer jet truck, which will be used by the city's public works department to clear blocked sewer lines."This is a very critical piece of equipment," Public Works Director Kyle Torster said during Monday's City Council meeting.He said crews use high-pressure hoses to clear debris from the sewers. The 2009 model truck in use is "pretty much going on its last legs, per se," Torster said.The mayor and council voted 4-0 to award the contract to Maryland Industrial Trucks, of Linthicum. Councilman Melvin Taylor was absent Monday.That bid was the highest of three bids offered, Torster noted. He said he had to disqualify the lower bidders "because they do not meet the qualifications for specifications."The lowest bid was $344,000, Torster said.The public works department has an extensive list of specifications for crew safety, water storage and equipment.Torster noted the lower bidders reported they could not meet specifications in some situations and asked for waivers in other situations, which the city could not grant."I cannot, in all consciousness, find these exceptions to be something that I would waive," he said.The city will purchase, through Maryland Industrial Trucks, a vehicle manufactured by the Illinois-based Vactor Manufacturing Inc. Crews can use water and vacuum hoses, with on-board water tanks, pumps and electronic monitoring systems, to clear blocked sewer lines, according to the Vactor website.Torster said the city has used Vactor trucks for more than 23 years, and they are also used by Bel Air, Havre de Grace, Elkton, Harford County and Baltimore City."Our staff know the technical aspects of the truck," Torster said. "It provides the operational safety requirements that we desire."Mayor Patrick McGrady expressed concerns that the city is spending so much money, but Councilman Tim Lindecamp noted about $26,000 will be saved, since the bid is under budget."I expect that in 100 to 120 days we'll see a shiny new vac truck, and hopefully by then we'll get our charter amendment done so we can pay for it," McGrady said, referring to a pending proposed charter amendment that would make it easier for Aberdeen to borrow money.