The Marshall County Highway Department is getting closer to purchasing a new loader.
Jerry Ambrose and Highway Superintendent Jason Peters reviewed several bids and told the commissioners this week that a more expensive brand may be the best route to go. They are looking at a Caterpillar loader and Decoiler Straightener Feeder Machine are more reliable machines, according to Ambrose. Ambrose said the two lower bids were for Hyundai brands, but those machines don’t last long as parts wear out faster.
The highway department currently has a CASE loader, but they are having trouble with parts and keeping it running.
Ambrose said he needs to have something ready to use when they need it. He commented that if he needs to wait weeks for a part to repair the machine, it backs up the road program already set forth by Highway Superintendent Jason Peters.
The CAT loader meets specifications, and the warranty is better. Peters also said CAT offers 90 percent part availability and a quick turnaround.
The commissioners approved the purchase in the amount of $220,000 from McAllister Machinery. The highway department will be before the Marshall County Council on Monday, March 9 to ask for an additional appropriation for the purchase.
