Apache Junction Water District trustees on July 15 unanimously approved buying a custom tilt trailer and a Caterpillar mini excavator to support water-line repairs and construction. The board voted to spend up to $25,000 on a Texas Pride custom trailer and up to $190,000 on a Caterpillar 308-series mini excavator under a City of Tucson cooperative contract.

Board members and staff said the purchases are intended to lower recurring rental costs and to improve the district’s ability to dig through caliche, a local hard soil that has limited the utility of the district’s existing backhoe. District Director Mike said, “We’re requesting $25,000 to purchase a custom trailer to haul our possible new mini excavator,” and described the excavator as a compact, low-swing machine that can dig more efficiently than the existing backhoe.

The board learned the trailer purchase will allow staff to move the excavator between field sites for water-line repairs and construction. Mike told trustees the excavator can reach depths greater than 10 feet and will come with a ripper bucket and a sheep’s-foot compaction attachment; staff also said a four-year warranty and included service were part of the purchase price.

During discussion members asked about weight and capacity: staff said the excavator weighs about 20,000 pounds, and trustees noted the trailer must match that capacity. The district attorney, identified as Mr. Stern, advised that because both the district and the city are municipal entities, sharing the machine with other city departments is permissible without running afoul of the gift clause; the board discussed informal exchanges of services as an option.

No public speakers addressed the item. A motion to approve the trailer purchase from Texas Pride Trailers LLC, in an amount not to exceed $25,000, passed by roll call vote with all members voting yes. A separate motion to approve purchasing a 2025/2026 Caterpillar mini excavator from Empire Southwest using City of Tucson cooperative contract number 212816-01 in an amount not to exceed $190,000 also passed unanimously.

The district characterized the acquisitions as part of its 2026 budgeted capital purchases. Staff said the excavator will be used for water-main tie-ins, emergency main repairs and occasional support to other municipal departments, and that expected rental-cost savings would help justify the purchase over time.