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Bannock County staff report new groomer, truck and trailer, wing tests and drone upgrades ahead of winter
Summary
County operations staff told commissioners they have a new truck, trailer and groomer ready for winter, are trialing winged plows and expanding a drone tank to double its capacity to reach a 60-foot swath, and have stocked salt and sand at county locations.
Speaker 2 told the Bannock County session that county operations had purchased a new truck and trailer and that 'the groomer's ready to go,' describing removable fittings that make the trailer multiuse in the off-season.
The presentation covered safety and operational questions: Speaker 3 asked whether a commercial driver's license would be required with the groomer and trailer attached; Speaker 4 and Speaker 2 said the truck could be operated without a CDL alone but that the combined weight with the groomer and trailer may require CDL-level operation in practice. Speaker 4 highlighted a 10-foot hydraulic dovetail that allows the groomer to be loaded by remote from the groomer cab, reducing staff trips on slick surfaces and improving safety.
Speaker 2 said the county has stocked salt and sand at all county locations and reported 12 trucks equipped with sanders and plows and 6 graders with wings prepared for winter response. Two new dump beds and chassis are in progress; bodies and plow assemblies are being fitted through Kenworth then routed to Diesel Depot for installation. Speaker 2 said these purchases are in this year's budget and will replace two existing trucks.
The county is trialing winged plows (one assigned to each end of the county) to improve clearing efficiency on wider roads; Speaker 2 said the wings could reduce the number of passes required on long routes but noted maintenance needs will be evaluated over a full year.
On pavement operations, Speaker 2 discussed planning for next spring's chip-seal program and asked whether purchased chips could be staged near the groomer yard. Speaker 3 said he did not think staging would be allowed in the area the transcript identifies as 'Income'; the speakers discussed seeking an alternative site near McCammon.
Facility maintenance was also raised: Speaker 2 said new facility doors are scheduled for installation this month and that Robinson expects about a three-week window to replace the roof, with possible work beginning shortly before Christmas if weather permits.
Speaker 4 described right-of-way mowing work by the weed department and a Helio drone modification project that increases the tank capacity from about 20 liters to about 40 liters, which staff said would allow treatment swath width to increase toward roughly 60 feet. Speaker 4 also noted a recently purchased used truck for the agricultural extension and said Kyle is preparing a comprehensive fleet plan aiming to replace equipment on roughly a 20-year lifecycle to control capital costs.
Staff answered follow-up questions from Speaker 1 and offered to arrange a meeting with a Cat leasing representative to review leasing options for future equipment acquisitions. The presentation concluded with thanks and commitments to follow up on staging, scheduling and fleet planning.
