OK With Fabick Skid Steer Offer

By MARK EVANS

STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD

After visiting with Craig Harris of Fabick Cat last Thursday, Ste. Genevieve County commissioners were satisfied with the proposed resolution to their skid steer problem.

The commissioners and Road and Bridge Foreman Scott Schmieder had long bemoaned the trouble they had with a Caterpillar skid steer they had gotten from Fabick. Much of the trouble stemmed from the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system, which frequently causes it to shut down.

They had been pleased with Caterpillar equipment and with Fabick in the past, but felt they had gotten a “lemon” in this particular piece of equipment.

The skid steer, bought two years ago, has had problems almost from the start, most notably the DEF system. Earlier offers to merely extend the warranty were not what the commissioners wanted.

On Thursday, Harris offered to sell the county a newer version of essentially the same style skid steer, giving it a $37,500 trade-in for the malfunctioning one. That left a price tag of just $20,000 for the new one. It would come with a full warranty.

“This is basically what we’ve asked for from the beginning,” Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson said.

Harris said he had already ordered the skid steer (although the county would have been under no obligation to take it, if the offer had been rejected). It should arrive in June.

CARRON REPORTS ON PROGRESS

Chris Carron, who operates Angstrom Manufacturing in the old Elder Manufacturing facility, reported on progress being made there. Angstrom was one of 24 Missouri businesses to take advantage of a pandemic-related grant for retooling businesses to make face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE).

Carron told the commissioners he had been one of 24 recipients, but was the only one of the 24 that still produces PPE.

ROOFING BID ACCEPTED

After the two bids received for repairing the community center roof were reviewed, the commission voted to accept the low bid.

Bade Roofing of St. Louis had a base bid of $582,058  and an alternate bid of $158,260, for a total bid of $740,318 and was awarded the contract.