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Council approves funding to buy a road grader after presentations on equipment hours and contracting costs
Summary
Public works staff presented usage hours, idle time and repair history for the city's graders; council approved an amendment to fund a new grader despite debate about contracting out winter work and budget trimming.
Public Works maintenance supervisor Keith Jones presented data on May 27 showing run hours, idle time and repair history for four graders used by the city. Jones said the city averages roughly 350–440 operating hours per grader per year and that industry standard idle time varies widely; he reported recent mechanical failures on older machines and a recent price increase for new graders.
Jones said that replacing the oldest grader now would allow the city to move a less‑reliable 2011 machine into backup status and retire a 1997 unit while maintaining service levels. He gave cost context, saying a contractor charges roughly $160 per hour and the breakeven on purchasing a grader could be several years depending on usage and contracting assumptions.
Council members asked whether the city could continue contracting road grading work instead of buying. Jones said the city does contract out part of snow removal but that contractors are not always reliable and availability can vary; he also noted the city lacks an in‑house mechanic for major repairs and frequent downtime can complicate schedules.
After discussion the council adopted an amendment to keep the grader purchase in the CIP (amendment 36 passed by recorded vote), citing equipment age, reliability and long‑term cost considerations. Staff said procurement and scheduling would follow normal capital project procedures.
