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Road & Bridge pitches $1,500 annual diagnostic subscription to cut $1,000 tech callouts
Summary
Staff proposed buying an ETLINKS diagnostic box (one‑time harness/box ~$1,140 and $1,500/year service) so mechanics can pull and clear Cat machine codes themselves instead of paying ~$1,000 per vendor callout; commissioners discussed cost-sharing with landfill operations and training needs.
Road & Bridge staff asked commissioners to approve purchasing an ETLINKS diagnostic solution to reduce repeated vendor callouts for Cat equipment. The supervisor said the package includes a one‑time box/harness cost (quoted in the meeting as $1,140) and a $1,500 annual subscription; each vendor technician call currently costs the county about $1,000. "They do have their own... ETLINKS system part service. It's a $1,500 a year subscription and a one time payment of $1,140," the supervisor said, adding that sending one mechanic to training would cost roughly $700.
Commissioners suggested splitting the annual cost with the landfill/waste‑haul operation because those machines also use Caterpillar diagnostic tools. Staff said the box plugs into Cat machines and, with trained mechanics, would allow in‑house code resets and diagnostics. The board did not vote but asked staff to place the contract on a future agenda with a recommended cost‑share and training plan so commissioners can approve it formally.
