Stafford accepts bid to buy piece of heavy equipment

Posted by Howard Owens on May 11, 2009 - 11:05pm
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644loader.jpgThe Stafford Town Council approved the purchase of a John Deere Model 644 Loader Monday night for $98,000.

The piece of heavy machinery can serve a number of uses in the town, from earth movement to snow removal.

The full price is $166,000, but the town will get $68,000 trade in value for its current loader.

The winning bid was submitted by Five Star Equipment of Rochester. It was the only bid of four that met all of the criteria of the bid request, according to Highway Superintended Steve Boldt.

Posted by Richard Gahagan on May 12, 2009 - 5:13pm
Where else on earth would this be news? Anybody else buy sumpin like a dump truck or potatoe picker? Come on someone in Elba had to get a new potatoe picker.
Posted by Andrew Erbell on May 12, 2009 - 5:28pm
I have to admit, I read this and had a similar reaction. On the other hand, I did have every single Tonka Toy ever made when I was a kid so I can see why Howard might find it interesting.
Posted by Howard Owens on May 12, 2009 - 7:58pm
I'm betting the people in Stafford find it interesting that their town council just laid out this kind of money for new heavy equipment.

I went to the meeting. It happened. Quick-easy-post.

And you're right, I do what I find interesting. I'm not worried about what newspaper tradition might say about "is it news?" I try very hard to be as unnewspaper-like as possible.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on May 12, 2009 - 8:23pm
I really like the picture. They got a good frugal deal on that tonka and its news.
Posted by Andrew Erbell on May 12, 2009 - 8:48pm
They obviously didn't get the memo to buy locally. I hope no one gets laid off at the Caterpillar Plant in Batavia because the Stafford Hwy Supt. was so selfish to only worry about the taxpayers that pay his salary.
Posted by Howard Owens on May 12, 2009 - 10:32pm
Andrew, no qualifying bids were from Genesee County. Also, the dealer is from Rochester and strictly regional NY (several locations). So that doesn't bother me. Also, John Deere is USA made, including the engine (not that I'm against foreign bought, so long as it's fairly done, so stop distorting my position). And to the benefit of dealing locally, the only dealer to send a representative to the meeting to answer questions was the John Deere dealer. So contrary to your snarky remark, this purchase more proves the point than disproves it.