Council authorizes up to $157,509 to repair Highway Department grader

The Ellsworth City Council voted to repair the Highway Department's motor grader instead of buying a new machine, authorizing the city manager to execute repair documents not to exceed $157,508.85.

Public Works Director Mike Harris told the council the grader would receive a full rebuild and that staff and vendor quotes showed repairing the existing machine was "our best option." Harris described options considered earlier: repairing the existing grader, purchasing a new machine (which would require a formal procurement process), or contracting grading work to private firms.

Councilors discussed the machine's condition and residual value. A city highway superintendent said the grader had "over 13,000 hours" but had received maintenance that kept the engine strong; staff reported trade-in values in the $25,000'$70,000 range. Councilor Halloran questioned whether deferred maintenance had driven up repair costs; councilors suggested hybrid approaches such as supplementing the fleet with contracted work while keeping the existing machine in service.

After a public hearing with no speakers, Councilor Shea moved to authorize the city manager to execute necessary documents with Chadwick Bay Ross for the complete rebuild/repair of the highway department's motor grader, in an amount not to exceed $157,508.85, with funding to come from the highway equipment reserve account, capital equipment reserve account, and a portion of the FY27 highway budget. The motion was seconded and passed; the chair declared the motion carries.

The council directed staff to reflect the repair and longer-term replacement planning in the capital improvement plan, and to report back if procurement or trade-in values materially change.