CROCKETT — The Crockett City Council voted to buy a 2003 Caterpillar motor grader from Houston County for $120,000 and to fund the purchase from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) proceeds, council members said at their October meeting.
City staff presented the grader as a trade-in opportunity and said the machine has about "9,300 hours" on it. "This is a 02/2003. It's almost 20 years old. It has 9300 hours," Unidentified Speaker 4 said while explaining the machine’s condition and maintenance history. Staff said Caterpillar inspected the grader, that Caterpillar had provided regular maintenance records, and that the city expects to auction its existing grader once the purchase is completed.
"They offered to us. . . 120,000 for that. That's roughly 300,000 plus for a new one," Unidentified Speaker 4 said, contrasting the trade-in price with the cost of a new machine. The presentation noted that the city’s current grader (a 1996 model) has been less reliable and had fewer hours of use but more frequent maintenance problems.
Unidentified Speaker 5 moved to approve the bill of sale for the 2003 motor grader from Houston County and Unidentified Speaker 1 seconded the motion. Council approved the purchase by voice vote.
City staff urged the council to fund the acquisition from ARPA proceeds. The clerk recorded the council’s approval but did not give a roll-call tally; the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff said the grader will allow the city to perform its own road repairs and construction work in-house, and that the county has offered continued assistance as able.
The council’s packet, as described in the meeting, also lists the city’s plan to present the old grader as a surplus item for auction to recover some value. Staff estimated the city might realize roughly $20,000 from selling its older grader, subject to auction results.
What happens next: Council approved the purchase and directed staff to proceed with the transaction using ARPA funds and to list the city’s current grader on the surplus auction list.