County buys used front-end loader

Among other action Monday, the Red Willow County commissioners purchased a used 2003 928Gz Caterpiller front-end loader from Nebraska Machinery, North Platte. The loader is priced at $85,000, and after allowing a trade-in of $20,000 on the county's 1979 John Deere 644 loader, the purchase price will be $65,000.

Two other bids were received: From Klein's Motor Electric, McCook, a New Holland W130B loader priced at $97,500, or $75,000 with a trade-in; and from Murphy Equipment, North Platte, a 2007 John Deere 544J priced at $115,000, or $94,500 with a trade-in.

The new/used loader will be used in District 1, Danbury/Lebanon.

* Purchased a 10-foot diameter, 40-foot long two-piece culvert for $12,285 from Husker Steel of Columbus. The culvert will replace a one-lane steel-banister bridge northeast of Marian, a bridge that the State of Nebraska Department of Roads has determined must be replace/repaired this spring. Until the culvert can be installed in April/May, after the frost leaves the ground, McNutt said, reduced weight limit signs have been posted on the bridge.

* Selected Miller and Associates of McCook as the engineering consultant for the inspection, staking and project management of the Driftwood Creek Southwest McCook federal-aid bridge replacement project. Miller and Associates was the only engineering firm to respond to requests for proposals sent to five McCook, Holdrege, North Platte and Kearney engineering firms.

* Approved moving the District 8 polling place to McCook Christian Church.