Council reviews $248,724 purchase of Caterpillar wheel loader for landfill

At the Aug. 11 Sheridan City Council study session, Fleet and Administrative Coordinator Heather Kaplinski recommended the city purchase a new 2024 Caterpillar 930M wheel loader from Wyoming Machinery Company for $248,724.03 to replace a 2016 930K currently used in landfill operations.

Kaplinski said the utilities department’s fleet replacement plan identified the replacement need based on the older loader’s age (about 10 years) and heavy use ("over 21,000 on it," per Kaplinski). The purchase was included in the current FY 26 budget.

Staff used cooperative purchasing through Sourcewell to obtain a quote; Kaplinski said the Sourcewell quote included a 16.1% discount off the suggested consumer list price. The quoted price includes freight, an extended warranty (which staff typically purchases for landfill loaders), and foam‑filled tires that Kaplinski said are critical for landfill operations. She described the 930M as an updated version of the 930K with a redesigned cab, advanced telematics, increased hydraulic power and improved fuel efficiency.

Kaplinski said the landfill budget had been set at about $240,179 for the loader this year, so the quoted total of $248,724.03 exceeded that amount. To cover the difference, staff proposed using $1,706.26 from a recent snow-pusher surplus and $6,830.77 from the solid waste contingency fund.

Kaplinski said Wyoming Machinery already has the loader in stock; if approved at a formal meeting she said the vendor would foam-fill the tires (a process that takes about four days) and then deliver the machine. She said the order-to-delivery timeline would be less than two weeks.

Kaplinski recommended council approve the purchase; no formal vote was taken at the study session. She also said the existing loader will be declared surplus when the new machine is accepted.