Puget County approves $414,972 purchase of John Deere motor grader, authorizes trade‑in

The Puget County Board on Nov. 25 approved purchasing a John Deere 672P motor grader from McCoy for $414,972 and authorized trading in an existing 1989 CAT 140 (unit 893).

Public Works staff presented a revised purchase request, saying the original request‑for‑board‑action listed $404,000 but staff revised that figure after confirming the machine needed an articulating plow. Staff compared quotes: a CAT quote using state bid was roughly $481,000 less trade‑in (bringing it down to about $451,000 after trade), John Deere source‑well pricing produced $449,972 less a $35,000 trade for a net $414,972, and Komatsu did not offer a comparable six‑wheel‑drive grader. Staff recommended the John Deere purchase and proposed stationing the new machine at International Falls while transferring an existing grader to Silverdale to meet terrain needs.

Commissioners asked about hours and usage patterns. Staff reported the Silverdale grader averages about 450 hours a year; International Falls uses its grader more heavily, closer to 800 hours annually. Delivery was estimated in quarter three of 2026. The board approved the purchase and trade‑in by voice vote.

Staff noted follow‑up steps: finalize the purchase order, arrange the trade‑in and confirm delivery timing and configuration. The purchase was described as a 2026 budgeted item; packet numbers contain an unclear figure ($404,120,000) that appears inconsistent with other materials and should be verified in contract documents and the adopted budget.