Supervisors approve replacement tractor purchase and hear road-project updates

Muscatine County supervisors approved the purchase of a replacement cab tractor to support road maintenance and received routine project updates from county engineer Ron Harshowsky.

Harshowsky presented quotes comparing a John Deere 615 (and a Case equivalent) and recommended purchasing the John Deere replacement for the route and shoulder-mowing work. The board approved the purchase after a motion by Supervisor (Speaker 4) and a second by Supervisor (Speaker 3); the motion passed by voice vote.

Harshowsky provided project updates: paving work on Stuart (between 49th Street North and the trailer home park) was progressing with imminent paving planned; contractors gave notice to demolish a box culvert on 180th Street in Pleasant Prairie with an anticipated start of removal on Nov. 19; and Mosquito Creek bridge work on F70 is scheduled for a late-start May 2026 with no winter work allowed under that contract.

Harshowsky said the older tractor's transmission failed and that the county will explore auction options to dispose of the old unit to potentially increase trade-in value. The board did not allocate additional funds beyond the approved purchase during the meeting.