Todd County sets spring road meeting for April 16; decision on $323,573 state-bid plow truck purchase tabled

The Todd County Board of Commissioners voted to set the county’s 2025 Spring Road meeting for April 16 at 9 a.m. at the North Shop. Commissioner Byers moved to set the date and time; Commissioner Nasca seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Separately, public works presented a recommendation to replace Public Works Unit 24, a 2005 Sterling plow truck with roughly 241,000 miles, under the county’s equipment replacement plan. The department presented two state-bid components: a chassis from Boyer Truck ($161,422.74) and snow-plow equipment from Towmaster Truck and Equipment ($162,151.00), for a combined proposed purchase price of $323,573.74.

Public-works staff explained the replacement schedule for plow trucks (typically one unit per year) and noted higher mileage, salt-related corrosion and electronic-component failures as drivers of replacement timing. Staff also described State Aid funding and said an unexpected increase in state-aid distributions this year added roughly $354,000 in revenue to the road budget compared with earlier estimates; staff said that additional state-aid revenue would cover about 69% of the proposed equipment expense.

Several commissioners asked for additional time to review the cost in the context of broader county budget projections. Commissioners moved to table the plow-truck purchase and a separate tractor purchase until the board’s Feb. 18 meeting so the finance committee could review the request. The motion to table passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: Approving the purchase would commit more than $323,000 of state-bid equipment spending and draw on State Aid and other road funds; tabling the purchase allows the finance committee to review timing and budget impacts.

Ending: The spring road meeting date is set for April 16 at 9 a.m., and the plow-truck and tractor purchases are scheduled for reconsideration at the Feb. 18 board meeting.