Morgan County agenda recommends $1.38 million in equipment purchases
Commissioners are scheduled Aug. 4 to consider a generator, three motor graders, a wheel loader and a financial-reporting services amendment; no action had been posted as of Aug. 3.
Morgan County commissioners are scheduled Aug. 4 to consider recommended equipment purchases totaling $1,381,024.12, including a backup generator, three all-wheel-drive motor graders and an articulated wheel loader. They also are scheduled to consider an amendment that would add production of the county’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and set total compensation at $60,000. The items remain recommendations, not approved purchases or contracts.
The generator recommendation would award Industrial Communications West $324,856.46, plus $5,657.66 for a Tier 3 noise-reducing enclosure, for a combined $330,514.12. The county’s board packet lists two bidders and says the generator is appropriately sized and the enclosure would reduce noise. It does not identify funding, a delivery timeline for the recommended bidder or a more detailed operational justification.
The county recommends buying three 2027 150-16A all-wheel-drive motor graders from Wagner Equipment for $1,167,660, less a $350,000 trade-in, for a cash total of $817,660. Estimated delivery is five to six months. The packet lists a 4 Rivers Equipment proposal with a cash total of $796,617.85 and 90-day delivery, but does not explain the recommendation for Wagner, why three graders are needed or which account would fund the purchase.
The recommendation for a 2026 Caterpillar 950GC all-wheel-drive wheel loader also names Wagner, at $268,050 less a $35,200 trade-in, for a cash total of $232,850. Estimated delivery is 30 to 45 days. The packet lists lower stated cash totals from Ready Dig Equipment, Power Motive Corporation and G4 Construction Equipment, but does not explain the preference for Wagner, the loader’s operational need or its funding account.
The proposed first amendment with Liittjohann, Kauffman & Pederson would add production of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report book to the firm’s services and set total compensation at $60,000. The packet does not state the prior compensation or identify a funding source.
The items are listed under “Consideration of Approval” on the Aug. 4 county agenda. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the Administration Building in Fort Morgan. As of Aug. 3, the county’s 2026 agendas and minutes page did not show an Aug. 4 meeting record. No approval, denial or postponement is reported here; final action, funding and purchase orders would need confirmation in a later official record.
An earlier proposal to buy a TANA H380 landfill compactor for $1,020,353.72 also remains unresolved in the existing coverage. Commissioners were scheduled to consider the purchase July 21, including a waiver of competitive bidding and a sole-source authorization. The July 21 agenda showed no vote or final action as of July 19.
The proposed agreement named 4 Rivers Equipment LLC as seller and listed a 2024 Caterpillar 816H trade-in valued at $375,000, leaving $645,353.72 due. The board packet did not explain the replacement rationale, provide a detailed equipment comparison or identify a budget account. The county says its Solid Waste Management operation is funded by landfill fees and receives no tax dollars, but that general statement does not identify the account or appropriation for the purchase.