Scurry County approves financing plan to acquire asphalt zipper for road repairs

Commissioners approved acquiring an asphalt zipper — a pavement‑rehabilitation machine used to strengthen road bases and prepare surfaces for chip seals — after staff reported negotiated price reductions and trade‑in credits. The purchase will be funded from the road maintenance fund (account 3304) with payment terms spread over several years to reduce a single‑year budget shock.

Staff reported the vendor reduced the price from an earlier higher quote to a lower negotiated figure (transcript references a reduction from roughly $333,000 to roughly $206,000). The vendor also offered additional premium bits and agreed to provide a pump upgrade at no extra charge if needed, and indicated the machine can be set up for 3‑ to 5‑year payments. Precinct staff and commissioners discussed shared use among precincts and logistics for trailers and attachments.

Commissioners agreed to structure initial payments to reduce immediate budget impact, with one commissioner proposing a three‑year note so the county would not absorb the full cash cost in a single year. The motion to purchase with the financing plan was seconded and approved. Staff were directed to finalize the purchase agreement, confirm payment schedule and report back with contract documents for the court's records.

Because the transcript contains shorthand and some numbers were discussed conversationally, the article reports the negotiated price change as presented by staff in meeting comments and notes the commissioners approved a financing approach rather than an immediate single‑payment outlay.