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County approves purchase of used pressure washer to reduce recurring rental costs
Summary
The board approved buying a lightly used pressure-washer unit for highway/bridge deck maintenance, trading in an older unit and projecting a two- to three-year payback compared with annual rental costs.
Houston County commissioners approved purchasing a used pressure washer for the highway department to support bridge deck cleaning and sealing, a task for which the county has historically rented equipment.
County staff said the department typically spends $2,500 to $4,000 a year renting pressure-washing equipment when preparing bridge decks for sealing. A vendor offered a used pressure washer with approximately 28 hours of use for $8,500; with a $1,000 trade-in for the county’s older unit, the net purchase price would be $7,500.
Staff argued buying the unit would be more cost-effective over two to three years, would allow year-round availability and remove scheduling constraints tied to rentals. The board approved the purchase by voice vote.
Operational details discussed included mounting the unit on a trailer, carrying water tanks (about 500 gallons) and using roughly five gallons per minute during operations. Staff said the unit would be stored at Spring Grove during off-season and used at multiple washing stations to support county work.
Actions: the board approved the one-time purchase of the used pressure washer and authorized necessary budget adjustments; staff will manage trade-in and equipment storage logistics.
Discussion versus decision: commissioners debated rental costs versus purchase and operational storage; the board approved the purchase as recommended.
