BUFFALO COUNTY HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

April 8, 2004

Highway Department Committee Room – Buffalo County Courthouse

Alma, Wisconsin

Chairman Sather called a regular scheduled meeting of the Buffalo County Highway Committee to order at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 8, 2004 in the Highway Department Committee Room on the second floor of the Buffalo County Courthouse, Alma Wisconsin. 
 

Buffalo County Highway Committee members present at the meeting were:  Mr. Carothers, Mr. Christ, Mr. Parkhurst, Mr. Sather and Mr. Twidt.  Mr. Brevick – Buffalo County Highway Commissioner was also present. 
 

Other individuals present during portions of the meeting included:  Mr. Michael Thompson, Patrol Superintendent, and Ms. Diane Prenot, Highway Department Office Manager, Buffalo County; and Mr. Dave Lindner of Lindner Culvert Supply. 
 

The Minutes of the March 25, 2004 regular Buffalo County Highway Committee meeting were reviewed.  A motion to approve the Minutes of that meeting, as mailed and reviewed, was made by Mr. Parkhurst, seconded by Mr. Christ and unanimously approved by the Highway Committee members.   
 

The Highway Committee members reviewed and discussed accounts payable vouchers #013187 through #013231, totaling $39,002.61.  A motion to approve the accounts payable vouchers for payment, as presented and reviewed by the Committee, was made by Mr. Carothers and seconded by Mr. Christ.  Motion unanimously approved by the Highway Committee members. 
 

A discussion followed as it related to the procurement of an extended factory warranty for the recently acquired CAT 143 all wheel drive motor grader.  The cost of an optional extended three (3) year / 5,000 hour warranty is $1,850, plus engine oil sampling costs (based on a price recently received from FABCO).  The cost of the optional five (5) year / 7,500 hour extended warranty is $4,000, plus engine oil sampling costs (based on the price received from FABCO at our previous Committee meeting).  Since the standard factory warranty for the motor grader is one (1) year, the optional extended factory warranties cover two (2) and four (4) additional years respectively.  The cost of engine oil sampling stated with the five (5) year extended warranty was $422.   A considerable amount of discussion ensued regarding the pros and cons of acquiring an optional extended factory warranty.  Engine oil sampling and analysis will be undertaken regardless of the acquisition of an optional extended warranty.  Mr. Parkhurst made a motion to acquire the additional optional three (3) year / 5,000 hour extended factory warranty.  The motion did not obtain a second, and thus failed to proceed further.  Following additional discussion, Mr. Twidt made a motion to not purchase any optional extended warranty for the CAT 143 motor grader.  That motion was seconded by Mr. Christ and approved by a majority of the Committee members.  Mr. Parkhurst voting no, the motion carried.    
 

Mr. Brevick indicated that WisDOT had issued a new Discretionary Maintenance Agreement, for construction continuation into calendar 2004, for the new State of Wisconsin DOT salt storage shed at the Alma highway shop location.  The total project funding continues at $160,500.  Mr. Christ made a motion to accept the 2004 Discretionary Maintenance Agreement continuation for completion of the State of Wisconsin salt shed project.  Mr. Carothers seconded the motion that was subsequently unanimously approved by the Committee members.  The Highway Committee members then signed the new WisDOT Maintenance Agreement.  
 

Mr. Thompson joined the meeting at 9:50 A.M. to discuss the previously owned Crafco E-Z Pour 400 Melter / Applicator viewed at the Alma highway shop on Tuesday, April 6, 2004.  These units heat and apply “rubberized” material to cracks in the roadway surface.  The previously owned Crafco unit viewed was manufactured during September 2000 and purchased, when new, by Dane County (Wisconsin).  It was recently traded to Sherwin Industries for a new Crafco E-Z Pour Melter / Applicator unit.  At the time of viewing (on April 6), the unit had approximately 1,278 hours on the engine tachometer.  A new Crafco E-Z Pour 400 Melter / Applicator unit could be purchased for approximately $42,000.  This previously owned Crafco unit (with raw material conveyor included) could be purchased for $20,500.  Buffalo County would use the unit for both State Trunk Highway and County Trunk Highway roadway maintenance (surface crack filling).  When used for State Trunk Highway roadway surface crack filling, Buffalo County would be reimbursed at the rate of $27.00 per hour of use for the machine.  Over the next several years, it is estimated that the unit would be used an average of 100 to 150 hours per year for State Trunk Highway roadway maintenance.  With a depreciable life of eight (8) years and a residual value of fifteen percent (15%) of the cost, the unit would “break even” at approximately eighty five (85) hours of State of Wisconsin reimbursed usage per year.  Additional discussion was also held regarding the use of “crack routing” in conjunction with the material applicator.  Mr. Christ made a motion to recommend purchase of the previously owned Crafco E-Z Pour 400 Melter / Applicator to the entire Buffalo County Board of Supervisors.  Mr. Parkhurst seconded that motion which was subsequently unanimously approved by the Highway Committee members.  Mr. Thompson departed the meeting at 10:15 A.M.   
 

Mr. Dave Lindner of Lindner Culvert Supply joined the meeting at 10:15 A.M.  His company was formerly affiliated with Bark River Culvert and Equipment.  Metal culvert prices are significantly higher this year due to the dramatic recent increase in the price of raw steel.  In addition, Mr. Lindner indicated that plastic culverts are also more expensive due to the increase in the cost of petroleum and petroleum based products.  Due to the volatility of steel prices, the metal culvert quotes submitted by Lindner Culverts Supply will be valid only through June 15, 2004.  Following additional discussion, Mr. Lindner departed the meeting at 10:30 A.M. 
 

Mr. Brevick distributed the metal culvert, connector band and end wall price quotes recently requested and received.  Although price quotes were requested of five (5) culvert suppliers, only two (2) suppliers responded with product price quotes.  Generally, the two (2) price quotes received were significantly higher than those received last year.  Mr. Parkhurst made a motion to accept the product price quotes received from these two (2) suppliers.  Mr. Carothers seconded the motion that was subsequently unanimously approved by the Committee members.  A brief recess was called at 10:35 A.M. 
 

The meeting resumed at 10:45 A.M with a review and signing of the prepared Resolution for Purchase of the Crafco E-Z Pour Melter / Applicator unit. 
 

Ms. Prenot joined the meeting at 10:50 A.M. to briefly summarize the 2003 Buffalo County Highway Department Annual Report.  Following the brief review, Ms. Prenot departed the meeting at 11:05 A.M.  Each member of the Committee will review the Annual Report in greater detail and present any questions they may have at a future Committee meeting. 
 

The next regular meeting of the Buffalo County Highway Committee is currently scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2004 beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the Highway Committee Room, Second Floor, of the Buffalo County Courthouse in Alma, Wisconsin.  The regular May 2004 meetings of the Buffalo County Highway Committee are currently scheduled for Monday, May 10, 2004 and Tuesday, May 25, 2004 each beginning at 9:00 A.M. in the Highway Committee Room, Second Floor, of the Buffalo County Courthouse in Alma, Wisconsin. 
 

Being no further business to transact, a motion was made by Mr. Parkhurst to adjourn.  Being seconded by Mr. Christ, and unanimously approved by the Highway Committee members, the meeting was adjourned at 11:13 A.M.  
 

Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
 
 

Del D. Twidt                   

Secretary, Buffalo County Highway Committee