The Marshall Municipal Utilities Board of Public Works approved the purchase of a new mini skid steer during its meeting on Thursday, July 11.

IT and Broadband Director Jim Widel reported that the department’s current machine had a catastrophic engine failure. Widel says the department uses the machine every day for customer drops, digging, and various reel-handing jobs. The current machine is 12 years old and was purchased in 2013.

The board had a five-year plan to replace the skid steer, but the machine didn’t last as long as expected.

After some discussion, the board voted to purchase a new Ditch Witch SK1050C in the amount of $44,884.44. The board plans to ask the USDA to add the amount to MMU grant, but replacing the machine was too necessary to wait for a response.