Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Saline County approves $632,000 purchase of two motor graders
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved staff recommendation to buy two 2025 motor graders from Murphy Tractor for $632,000, trading in two 2019 John Deere machines. The purchase will be paid from the Road and Bridge special machinery fund.
The Saline County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 14 to approve the purchase of two 2025 motor graders from Murphy Tractor for $632,000, with the county trading in two 2019 John Deere graders.
Darren Fischel, Road and Bridge administrator, told the board sealed bids were opened Dec. 2, 2024, and that Murphy Tractor’s total-cost bid of $632,000 — after a trade allowance of $189,200 — was the lower of two competitive offers. Fischel said using a total-cost bidding method allows the county to consider acquisition plus maximum repair and maintenance costs.
Fischel recommended the Murphy Tractor bid and said the Road and Bridge special machinery fund has a current balance of $1,987,242.96; paying $632,000 from the account would leave a balance of $1,355,242.99. Commissioners asked whether the two new models were comparable and whether it was practical to run the traded equipment to 10,000 hours; Fischel said graders tend to ‘‘break over’’ at about 8,000 hours and he would not recommend pushing them to 10,000.
A motion to approve RFA-2025-03 as presented was made and seconded. Commissioners voted in favor; the chair declared the motion carried.
The approved purchase directs staff to trade the 2019 John Deere machines as part of the transaction and to proceed with procurement from Murphy Tractor.
