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Grafton officials debate when to replace town grader, backhoe and trucks
Summary
At a Grafton special support meeting Oct. 27, town officials and staff probed options for replacing aging road equipment — including a backhoe, grader and multiple trucks — and discussed funding paths including reserves, grants or a bond. Staff will gather updated specs and cost estimates for the budget committee.
GRAFTON — At a special support meeting Oct. 27 at town hall, the Chair and town staff focused much of the discussion on the town’s capital-equipment needs, weighing whether to keep, trade or replace aging vehicles and machinery.
A staff member asked the board for guidance on several capital items and whether the town should begin setting aside money for replacements. Officials discussed the backhoe (more heavily used than previously), the grader and several trucks, with members noting different service lives and trade-in-value concerns.
A participant described a recent mechanical issue with the backhoe’s bucket pin and said the machine would be taken to a local shop (NorthJacks) to have the pin cut out; others said the backhoe remains useful for emergency tree work but may be a candidate for replacement if repair costs rise. On the grader and tractor, speakers said some machines still have many useful hours while others are nearer the end of their service life.
Officials flagged lead times for new equipment: one speaker said a specified vehicle would not be available until mid-2026 and could take about a year to be delivered, so the group agreed to collect updated specs and current price estimates rather than act immediately. "We still have their bids from last year," one member said; others recommended getting fresh quotes for the backhoe and excavator.
The board also discussed how to pay for future purchases. Options raised included building a capital-equipment reserve, tying certain projects to grants, or using bond financing. One participant said the town has some leeway from paying off another obligation, which could free funds for equipment; participants agreed staff should return with a clearer funding recommendation.
Speakers emphasized safety and short-term fixes. Members noted several trucks with bald tires that should be replaced when needed and discussed using spares to limit downtime. Staff reported limited budget availability this year and recommended staggering replacements to smooth costs.
Next steps set by staff and members include: obtaining updated specifications and price quotes, reviewing last year’s bids for comparison, estimating trade-in values, and returning the recommendations to the budget committee for formal consideration. No formal appropriation or purchase decision was made at the meeting.
The meeting moved on to other agenda items and adjourned after a short public-comment period. The board set the next regular meeting for Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. at town hall.
