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Brown County considers buying used backhoe and will seek bank financing options
Summary
Commissioners discussed replacing a failing solid‑waste backhoe and agreed to pursue pre‑owned options, seek bank financing and request additional quotes for a Case 580 NEP or similar machine priced around $85,000.
Brown County commissioners discussed replacing a failing backhoe used by solid waste operations and agreed to pursue used equipment options while seeking bank financing and additional quotes.
A county equipment/operations representative told the board the department has quotes for both new and used machines and noted new machines were quoted in the $151,000–$155,000 range. "We're getting a quote for a backhoe that's $155,000... We're talking saving $60,000," the representative said while describing why pre‑owned equipment is being considered.
Staff and the solid waste foreman reported that a used Case 580 NEP (2022 model; cited in the packet as having about 880 hours) would likely meet operational needs while costing roughly $85,000. Commissioners discussed procurement logistics for used equipment, including whether formal solicitation language should request "similar" models and how banks will treat financing of pre‑owned units. The board directed staff to contact the county's bank for financing options and to continue searching for units that meet the detailed parameters (enclosed cab, four‑wheel drive, extended hoe, less than about 1,000 hours).
Why it matters: commissioners said buying pre‑owned equipment could yield substantial short‑term savings for the county while allowing operations to continue; they also noted the need to balance long‑term maintenance and replacement schedules. The board discussed financing options (bank loans, lease purchase) and the need to identify a procurement path that meets county purchasing rules for used equipment.
The county did not authorize an immediate purchase at the meeting. Instead, commissioners agreed to the next steps: staff will reach out to the county bank to confirm whether financing is available for the targeted used machines and Brandon (staff) will continue to locate candidate units. The board asked staff to report back with bank terms and any additional competitive options before returning for final approval.
No formal vote to purchase was recorded; the board recorded consensus to pursue bank financing options and additional equipment searches.
