The Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie is purchasing a used track tractor for $126,000.

Council voted on Tuesday to buy the 2001 CASE IH STX 440 Quadtrac tractor with 8680 hours from Fraser Auction Service in Brandon. Reeve Kam Blight says they plan to use it year-round.

"It's going to be a multi-purpose unit, but ideally, we're targeting winter applications because it's something that can travel at a good ground speed, versus our larger CATs, that have to be transported by highway tractor and trailer," says Blight. "This will minimize the amount of employees required to operate it, and hopefully, will be a benefit in those snowy winters."

In the winter, the tractor will push back corners and ridging snow. In the summer, they can pull the disc more effectively for road reconstruction. Currently, the RM has six motor graders, one rubbertire backhoe, one tractor with snow blower for Dela Beach, and one skidsteer with a snow blower. (This does not include the three machines specifically used for Oakville.)

Reeve Blight says this machine will make things more efficient.

"We're one of the largest municipalities in the province of Manitoba. We have some of the largest amount of miles that need to be serviced and maintained. We're trying to provide timely service to our repairs so that they can not only have the roads open, but also get out where they get their kids to school, get to work, or for safety vehicles for fire, ambulatory services, and police."

The RM currently has $1,274,000 in the machinery reserve fund which will allow them to make this purchase.

 

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