6.3. ERMUSR 01-11-2005Elk River
Municipal U
13069 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
December 20, 2004
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
Jim Tralle
John Dietz
From: Bryan Adams
Subject: Cable Plow
phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
The electric department currently uses three cable plows to install underground electric
conductors. These cable plows are 485 Vermeer, 495 Vermeer and a 560 Case. The two
Vermeer units are long worn out and should be replaced. The 2005 budget contains a
$70,000 item to replace the two Vermeer units and a $14,000 item to replace their
trailers.
Both Case and Vermeer have state contracts on their units. Cost comparisons are as
follows.
New Case 960 $92,554
Trade-in (12,950)
New 30,000# Trailer 11,650
Trade-in (1,000)
$90,254
ities
New Vermeer V8550A $91,207
Trade-in (7,000)
New 30,000# Trailer 11,560
Trade-in (1,000)
$94,767
A picture of this piece of equipment is attached. From staffs' evaluation, the Case 960 is
a superior machine to the Vermeer V8550A. The controls are very similar to the Case
560 we already use so there would be less confusion for the operators.
Staff recommends authorization given to purchase the Case 960 and new trailer along
with trading in the two Vermeer units.