Commissioners approve $32,085 Land Pride mower for county airport

Ravalli County commissioners on May 13 approved the purchase of a 20‑foot Land Pride mower from Big Sky Kubota for $32,085 to replace an aging airport mower, funding the purchase from the airport capital account.

Airport maintenance staff presented three bids and said the current mower is heavily worn and has needed multiple repairs. The bids considered a Kubota/Land Pride unit (in stock), an RDO option (lead time to November), and another manufacturer with a short lead time. Staff recommended the Land Pride through Big Sky Kubota partly because a comparable Land Pride had been serviceable in county use and because the Kubota dealer had a unit available immediately.

Commissioners discussed capital‑budget forecasting and noted the county’s previous replacement estimate for the existing equipment had underestimated replacement cost and overestimated life expectancy. The airport presenter estimated the new mower would help maintain roughly 30 acres of turf at the airport and that the existing tractor has about 3,200 hours and remains serviceable but is due for maintenance.

A motion to award the bid to Big Sky Kubota for $32,085 and charge the Airport Capital account passed on a unanimous voice vote. Commissioners and staff discussed possible cost‑sharing with the park district for other mowing responsibilities and options to store the old mower for limited use at another county site.

The board instructed staff to proceed with procurement and delivery arrangements; the vendor reported the Kubota unit was in stock and could be delivered sooner than alternatives. Commissioners noted FAA equipment replacement funding availability is limited in the near term and that the county’s other capital accounts could offset short‑term needs.