Board votes to send proposal for D8 dozer replacement to budget committee

The Wilson County facility board voted by voice to send a proposal for replacing a 29‑year‑old D8 dozer to the county budget committee for formal review.

Cindy Lynch, presenting the solid waste report, told the board the dozer “has died” and said it is “29 years old and has over 11,000 hours on it.” Lynch summarized repair options, saying an engine replacement quote was “a little over $38,000,” but members warned replacement could trigger additional transmission and hydraulic costs. Board members also discussed a higher repair-scenario figure raised during debate and the practical downtime if the unit is out of service.

Members emphasized timing and procurement constraints: Lynch said new units are roughly six to seven months out for delivery. A member moved to approve proceeding with a new purchase request; the motion passed by voice vote and the chair said the item will return to the budget committee for formal action, where members can still recommend an amendment to repair rather than replace.

Board members also discussed logistics for disposing of the old machine if replaced. Lynch noted a quoted trade-in value of about $22,500 and cautioned that selling as surplus could be problematic because a buyer must be able to remove the machine from the site.

Next steps: the proposal will appear on the budget committee agenda for a funding decision and any final amendments before the full board takes a binding vote.