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Christian County approves $23,000 slope-capable mower after staff raises safety concerns
Summary
County maintenance staff told commissioners existing zero-turn mowers are unsafe on steep detention basins and asked to buy a Cub Cadet slope mower with a five-year/1,200-hour warranty; the commission approved the purchase and the dealer is holding a unit for pickup.
A county maintenance worker asked the Christian County Commission on Thursday to approve buying a slope-capable Cub Cadet mower to reduce injury risk while mowing steep detention basins and the county campus. The commission voted to authorize the purchase.
The maintenance staff member said the county’s current zero‑turn mowers behave like "crazy wheels" on banks up to 40–46 degrees and can rear up or roll downhill into detention ponds built to hold up to four feet of water. "This is mainly about safety more than anything else," the staffer said, describing field tests with a mower used by a local school district and the City of Branson.
The staff presentation said the dealer and other local users reported the model can operate sideways on slopes and that dual rear wheels and a mechanical linkage between front wheels and rear hydraulic drives improve stability. The speaker said trade‑in offers for the existing 10‑year‑old mower were low and that mowing the 40‑acre campus currently requires three employees working together most of one day each week during spring.
Commissioners discussed durability and vendor support. The staffer said the mower vendor offers a five‑year, 1,200‑hour warranty and that S and H Farm Supply would carry replacement parts. One commissioner who supported the purchase said while he "hate[d] to spend $23,000," he preferred that expense to the risk someone could be seriously injured.
The commission moved and seconded the purchase authorization and voted in favor. The staffer said a unit is currently on hold at a dealer in Rogersville and could be picked up later in the week if the county proceeds; the presiding commissioner noted grass growth makes immediate use unlikely.
No additional budget appropriation details were announced at the meeting; staff explained the cost could come from remaining maintenance funds for 2025 or be budgeted for 2026 depending on available balances.
