Board approves $130,835 purchase of compact track loader and mulcher

Jackson County supervisors voted May 20 to accept the low bidder’s package for a Caterpillar compact track loader and a mulching attachment for a purchase price recorded on the floor as $130,835.

Why it matters: county roads and maintenance crews will use the machine for brush removal countywide; staff said the machine met minimum specs including a 105-horsepower baseline and specific guarding and triple-flanged idlers intended to reduce track run-off.

County roads staff presented the bid tab and recommended the Cat 275 XPS with a mulching head after receiving four responses. "We went out for bids or quotes for new compact track loader, minimum of a hundred and 5 horsepower machine," Jaden Shekel, county roads staff, told the board during the presentation.

A vendor representative, Tim Sherman of Martin Equipment, asked the board to consider awarding the machine and the mulching head separately because some manufacturers did not offer the specified triple-flanged idlers; he said his company complied with the county’s request and had offered the cutter as an alternate. "We submitted it as a main bid and an alternate like they asked," Sherman said.

Board comment focused on durability and warranty consistency. County staff said they preferred a single bidder for both machine and attachment to reduce future warranty or troubleshooting disputes. "I feel like there's benefit with awarding it to 1 bidder," the presenting staff member said.

Motion and outcome: Supervisor Mike Steiner moved to accept the low bid package; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The minutes record the motion as approving the Cat 275 XPS with the mulching attachment for $130,835 and the chair declared, "Motion carries." No roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript; the action was taken by voice vote.

Next steps: procurement staff will finalize purchase paperwork with the successful vendor and arrange delivery and training for county crews.