Supervisors select Caterpillar motor grader after dealer offers premium circle at no extra cost

Benton County’s board of supervisors on April 5 voted to accept county engineer staff’s recommendation to purchase a Caterpillar 150 motor grader to replace an aging rear-wheel-drive unit.

Roads staff solicited bids from two dealers offering John Deere and Caterpillar machines and asked for comparable configurations. John Deere offered an optional "premium circle" for additional cost; on Friday prior to the meeting the Caterpillar dealer told county staff it could provide a comparable premium circle at no additional charge and include a seven-year (7,500 hours) warranty. With those options included, the Caterpillar 150 quote netted about $4,400 more than the John Deere with premium circle but offered a slightly larger cab and other operator-preferred features.

County staff noted advantages on both makes—drivers cited John Deere’s steering-wheel option while Caterpillar cabs provide more interior space—and recommended the Caterpillar 150 for the Keystone shed because of cab size and the dealer’s offer to include the premium circle and warranty.

Supervisors approved the engineer’s recommendation by roll-call vote. Staff said delivery would likely be 22–25 weeks and that the purchase is included in the county’s multi-year equipment plan.

Why it matters: A motor grader is a heavy-maintenance capital piece for secondary roads; the choice affects operator comfort, long-term maintenance and fleet diversity. The board’s approval begins procurement and scheduling for replacement of older equipment.

Votes at a glance: Motion to accept engineer recommendation for Caterpillar motor grader — approved by roll call.