The Keith County Board of Commissioners meeting on November 6, 2024, focused primarily on reviewing bids for new motor graders. Two bids were presented for consideration, one from NMC and the other from Murphy Tractor and Equipment.

The first bid from NMC was for a Caterpillar 140 all-wheel drive motor grader, priced at $401,300. This bid included a trade-in value of $133,500 for an existing CAT 12M3 grader, resulting in a net cost of $267,800. The bid also offered a seven-year warranty and a basic filter kit.

The second bid, submitted by Murphy Tractor and Equipment, included two options for John Deere motor graders. The first was a 2025 John Deere 772GP, priced at $420,200, with a trade-in value of $149,000 for a 2019 CAT grader, leading to a trade difference of $271,200. The second option was a 2025 John Deere 773GP, also priced at $420,200, with a trade-in value of $109,000, resulting in a trade difference of $311,200. Both John Deere bids included a seven-year warranty and additional features.

The commissioners discussed the bids, noting that Thomas would review the details and provide a recommendation at a future meeting. The decision on which motor grader to purchase will be made after thorough evaluation of the bids. The meeting underscored the county's commitment to maintaining its equipment and ensuring efficient operations.