Instead of outright rejecting the lowest-priced equipment as had been recommended, Saline County commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to “test drive” a Sany SY215 excavator offered by a Farmington, Ky., company before making a purchase.

Kough Equipment offered the Sany for $176,799. However Darren Fishel, county road supervisor, said he was not familiar with the brand. He recommended commissioners instead purchase a John Deere 210G LC from Murphy Tractor, of Topeka, for $236,900 — about $60,000 more.

Bids included the cost of the excavator, guaranteed repair and maintenance costs plus a repurchase option after seven years or 500,000 hours.

Kough’s bid was for $176,799 with a repurchase price of $72,000, for a net cost of $104,799. Murphy’s bid was $236,900 with a $100,000 repurchase price, for $136,900 net cost.  Kough representative Matt Crawford, who made the nine-hour drive from Farmington to attend the meeting, said he could send an excavator to the Road and Bridge Department to be tested for a week.

“I’m skeptical. I know with Murphy Tractor if there is a breakdown we’ll have equipment sitting at the gate,” Fishel said. “The county has owned several John Deere excavators over the years and they have proven to be reliable and dependable. John Deere equipment is quality machinery which we know will hold its value.”

Bids include repurchase

“I’d be in favor of taking him up on the demonstration,” said Commissioner Luci Larson.

Fishel said Sany brand excavators are relatively new in the U.S. construction market.

“We have no data history to verify the reliability of the machine or the quality of its construction,” he said.

According to Salina, Commissioner John Price was concerned about purchasing equipment that the county might have difficulty getting parts for in 10 years.

Crawford said Kough has been in businesses since 1962. He said the bid includes a maintenance and repair agreement.

“They have lowered the price down to get the Sany name out,” Crawford said. He said 800,000 have been sold.

“Sixty-thousand dollars is a lot of money,” said Commissioner Dave Smith.

Commissioners voted to delay the purchase for 30 days while road and bridge workers test the Sany excavator.


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