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Hubbard County Board approves $310,000 loader, $159,332 truck chassis and Towmaster snow-equipment award
Summary
The Hubbard County Board approved several capital purchases and vendor awards, including a $310,000 John Deere loader, a $159,332 MAC truck chassis, and selection of Towmaster for snow-plow outfitting after commissioners weighed cost versus operator ergonomics and turnaround time.
The Hubbard County Board voted to approve multiple highway capital purchases and equipment contracts, citing fleet-standardization and operator safety as primary reasons.
County highway staff presented three quotes for a replacement John Deere loader and recommended the low bidder, McCoy Construction & Forestry (Grand Rapids), at a cost of $310,000; commissioners approved the purchase and staff said the outgoing unit will be auctioned once the new machine is in service.
Highway staff also recommended purchase of a 2026 MAC truck chassis from RDO Truck Centers (Fargo) at $159,332 using state bid pricing. Staff argued that standardizing on a single chassis brand reduces parts and software costs for maintenance. Commissioners approved the chassis purchase by voice vote.
On snow-equipment outfitting for a 2026 MAC tandem unit, staff presented two quotes from outfitters (Burt’s Truck Equipment and Towmaster). Towmaster’s proposal was roughly $14,000 higher but included built-in accessories, a different operator control placement described as more ergonomic, and a history of faster turnarounds. Highway staff said warranties begin on delivery and payment is made when equipment is received; they recommended awarding the contract to Towmaster. Commissioners approved the Towmaster award after discussion of build timelines, accessory inclusions, and user safety.
Board members asked about delivery timing and payment schedules; highway staff said the county pays on delivery, and that many suppliers’ schedules depend on when chassis arrive from manufacturers. Commissioners emphasized documenting accessory add-ons and cost comparisons for future procurements so taxpayers can see the reasons for higher bids.
The purchases were approved by voice votes. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.
Next steps: staff will finalize purchase documents, schedule delivery, and bring the replaced equipment to auction when the replacements are operational.
