Missoula County approves purchase of used industrial generator to power new crusher

Missoula County commissioners approved the purchase of a certified used industrial generator to power the county's new fully electric crushing operation, staff said.

County staff told commissioners the previous crusher and generator setup relied on multiple, aging components'the crusher dated to the 1950s and the generator to the 1970s'and that the existing generator could not supply the power the new system requires. Staff said the older unit produced about 350 kilowatts while the new crusher system needs roughly 1,000 kilowatts.

Staff said the county went out for bids and received a single responsive bid from Western States CAT for a certified used unit. The item described in the agenda packet is a 2001-model generator that had previously served as a hospital standby unit; staff said it had relatively low hours and regular maintenance as a standby unit.

A motion to approve the purchase was made and seconded. Griffin Smith asked whether the purchase had been included in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Andrew Chorney, a staff member, said the purchase will be financed by a combination of the general fund and the road fund; because the road fund lacked the full amount, the county will use a mix of cash and financing. Chorney also said the county will issue $1,000,000 in debt, apply a transfer from the general fund, and cover the remainder with the road fund.

Commissioners asked whether the generator is portable; staff confirmed it is intended to be moved among county sites to support crushing operations. The presenter said this purchase is likely the last major piece needed to bring the new crushing operation fully online.

The motion passed on a voice vote; commissioners voted "Aye." No roll-call tally was taken on the record during the meeting.

Funding source details provided in the meeting were: combination of general fund and road fund, a debt issuance of $1,000,000, and the remainder from the road fund; specific line-item amounts beyond the stated debt issuance were not specified in the transcript.

What happens next: staff will complete the purchase and commissioning of the generator so the county can operate the new electric crushing system at its road-work sites.