Road superintendent flags failing grader motor; commissioners weigh repair vs. replacement

Road department staff reported Jan. 20 that one of the countys graders has a chronic engine-compression problem that causes frequent servicing and exhaust/regeneration issues. Staff said past rebuilds and parts have produced recurring failures and that vendor quotes for a remanufactured long-block motor plus associated parts and labor put the cost in the $51,000 to $65,000 range depending on options and warranty.

Road staff recommended installing a new long-block motor or replacing the grader rather than continuing short-term repairs. Commissioners discussed trade-in options, warranty considerations (a dealer-backed reman with a one-year warranty and option to extend), and the risk of buying a motor from an unknown rebuild shop out of state.

Finance context: the board was told the road equipment/repair-parts budget has about $102,004.41 remaining and the road budget is roughly 25%5% expended with half the fiscal year remaining; commissioners judged there is budget capacity but asked staff to return with firm quotes and a procurement plan.

No formal purchase motion was recorded at the meeting; staff were directed to investigate options and provide formal recommendations at a future session.