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Road superintendent flags failing grader motor; commissioners weigh repair vs. replacement
Summary
Road staff told the board a graders motor has sustained low compression and repeated exhaust/regeneration problems; a vendor quote and rebuild estimates put motor-and-labor near $51,000—$65,000, and staff recommended replacing the motor rather than repeated repairs.
Road department staff reported Jan. 20 that one of the countys graders has a chronic engine-compression problem that causes frequent servicing and exhaust/regeneration issues. Staff said past rebuilds and parts have produced recurring failures and that vendor quotes for a remanufactured long-block motor plus associated parts and labor put the cost in the $51,000 to $65,000 range depending on options and warranty.
Road staff recommended installing a new long-block motor or replacing the grader rather than continuing short-term repairs. Commissioners discussed trade-in options, warranty considerations (a dealer-backed reman with a one-year warranty and option to extend), and the risk of buying a motor from an unknown rebuild shop out of state.
Finance context: the board was told the road equipment/repair-parts budget has about $102,004.41 remaining and the road budget is roughly 25%—5% expended with half the fiscal year remaining; commissioners judged there is budget capacity but asked staff to return with firm quotes and a procurement plan.
No formal purchase motion was recorded at the meeting; staff were directed to investigate options and provide formal recommendations at a future session.
