April 22, 2010

USDA Grant Will Help County Purchase Motor Grader

Local road improvements will get a boost from the federal government. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced April 14th that Scotland County is among six area recipients of more than $400,000 in federal grant funding targeting equipment purchases to improve local roads and facilities.

Scotland County will receive a $72,520 grant through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Community Facility Grant program. The funding will help the county purchase a new motor grader for road maintenance.

The county currently operates four motor graders, with a fifth kept on a back-up basis. The most recent upgrade to that fleet was made four years ago, with the county finalizing a three-year lease in 2009.

Officials indicated one of the older motor graders will be traded in, hopefully reducing the anticipated total purchase price of $212,000.

The USDA grant represents 35% of the projected purchase price.

Bids for the purchase will be let sometime this summer after the grant process is officially finalized.

The county likely will pursue the purchase of a CAT 140M or John Deere 770GP or equivalent motor grader.