Duchesne County approves three Road Department equipment purchases totaling about $372,917

The Duchesne County Commission on March 30 approved three pieces of equipment for the Road Department, citing operational needs and available Fund 41 appropriations. Public Works Director Mike Casper presented vendors and quotes and recommended the Hyundai 5,000-pound electric forklift from HOJ Forklift, LLC, at $49,500; a NAPA Auto Parts mobile truck lift at $67,666.91; and a Wheeler Machinery Co. 938 QC wheel loader, previously ordered, for $255,750.

Commissioner Tracy Killian moved to purchase the Hyundai forklift from Fund 41; Commissioners Jeff Chugg and Greg Miles joined her in a unanimous vote to approve the purchase. Casper said the forklift would meet current shop needs and noted warranty and vendor support were factors in his recommendation.

At a separate motion, the commission approved purchasing the NAPA mobile truck lift, with Casper explaining NAPA can store the lift locally until the county's new building is available. The same three commissioners voted aye.

The commission also ratified the prior loader purchase from Wheeler Machinery Co. for $255,750, a vote that brought the three purchases’ combined cost to approximately $372,916.91. Commissioner Killian moved to ratify the loader purchase and the motion passed unanimously.

The purchases were funded from Fund 41, per motions recorded in the meeting minutes. No dissenting votes were recorded. The county finance staff presented vouchers for review elsewhere on the agenda, and routine budget controls were discussed before the votes.