MINTO – Town council has authorized the purchase of a used grader for $130,000.
At the Nov. 20 meeting, road and drainage manager Mike McIsaac reported the town is looking to replace a 19-year-old grader “which has been extended over the end of its useful life and in need of substantial repairs.”
McIsaac’s report explains that Brandt Tractor (Nortrax) has obtained a grader unit that is well known to town staff as a trade-in. The dealer is prepared to accept an “as is where is” offer of $130,000 plus HST for the 2010 John Deere 770GP with 6,000 hours.
The report states the unit requires a retrofit of a snow wing and one-way plow to accommodate winter operations using existing implements and six new tires for around $40,000, bringing the total to $170,000 plus HST.
Private sale of the town’s 2000 Champion grader is expected to produce $20,000 to $30,000 in revenue. The report notes other units that are currently available with similar hours are selling for approximately $265,000 and a new unit could be expected to cost up to $450,000.
Treasurer/acting clerk Gordon Duff said the town’s equipment reserve contained sufficient funds for the purchase.
“This grader was a trade-in by the county and so it has 6,000 hours on it. Those 6,000 hours are summer hours, so it’s a pretty good deal … and we know it’s in good shape,” commented Mayor George Bridge.
