Choctaw County approves Kenworth dump truck purchase after debate over price, delivery and resale

Choctaw County commissioners voted to purchase five Kenworth dump trucks and one Kenworth lowboy after a protracted discussion about manufacturer resale value, delivery timing and looming debt-service obligations.

The vote approved a motion to buy five Kenworth dump trucks and a Kenworth lowboy; the motion passed as recorded in the meeting transcript (tally given aloud as “5 0 3 2”).

The decision follows a months-long review comparing Mack and Kenworth bids. County staff presented price sheets and recent auction resale data showing some variability by make, mileage and market supply. The commission’s county engineer recommended proceeding with the vendor who had trucks on the ground at body manufacturers to meet a narrow delivery window, saying, “My recommendation is to go with Jonathan” (referring to the vendor contact who reported trucks were available at body builders). Commissioners said the October debt-service and the two-year engine warranty deadline for existing units weighed heavily in their deliberations.

County staff told commissioners the Mack bid was roughly $227,447 per truck under the ACCA contract pricing, while the Kenworth quote used in the comparison was about $244,435 per truck — a difference of roughly $17,000 per truck. Staff and outside auction contacts presented recent sale averages for low-mileage dump trucks (roughly in the $235,000–$244,000 range depending on make and mileage). Those data and interviews with auctioneers and resale specialists were cited repeatedly during debate as justification for either choice.

Backup and resale strategy were central to the discussion. Commissioners described the county’s long-running rotation program — buying newer trucks and reselling the previous-year trucks at auction — as a hedge to maintain warranty coverage and reduce maintenance costs. Multiple speakers cautioned that delivery schedules depend heavily on body manufacturers and that vendor assertions about dates should be validated; one staff member noted a typical body turnaround of 60–120 days depending on current demand.

Commissioners also discussed financing implications. Staff said the county has a debt-service payment due in October tied to the existing truck fleet and that engine warranties on current trucks expire at about two years, which factored into the timeline for ordering replacements. Several commissioners said they were comfortable proceeding quickly to preserve the opportunity to sell older trucks at scheduled auctions and meet financing timelines.

Outcome: The commission approved purchase of five Kenworth dump trucks and one Kenworth lowboy. The formal motion as recorded in the meeting minutes was “purchase five Kenworth dump trucks and one Kenworth lowboy” (specifications not fully itemized in the transcript). The motion was moved and seconded and passed with the vote tally read aloud in the meeting. Individual roll-call votes were not specified in the transcript.

Why it matters: The purchase resets the county’s heavy equipment rotation, affects budget and debt-service timing, and hinges on resale market conditions that influence whether the county will recover value when older trucks are auctioned. Delivery and body-build timelines — factors largely outside the county’s direct control — will determine whether the county meets the schedule tied to the October financing obligation.

Looking ahead: Staff said they will continue pursuing the delivery schedule with the chosen vendor and will return to the commission with sale results and any adjustments required by delivery timing or auction outcomes.