Grader issue looms over Nevada County

PRESCOTT – Nevada County is involved in an ongoing issue with Riggs Equipment concerning a burned grader.

A special meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court was called Friday afternoon to discuss the situation. Basically, Riggs has engaged attorneys and is threatening to take the county to court if the county doesn’t pay $237,621.02 by April 19. A letter was sent to County Judge Mike Otwell from the Barber Law Firm of Little Rock on the matter. The letter states the county was in possession of the grader at the time it burned and the insurance on the equipment had lapsed.

The letter states, ” Judge Glass made an agreement with Riggs to pay $242,621.02 for repairs to the damaged grader. Although Nevada County made one payment of $5,000 to Riggs, with the assurance that the balance would be paid with grant funds expected in January 2024, a balance of $237,621.02 remains.”

Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale pointed out the county signed a lease agreement with Arvest in 2019, though Arvest is not an authorized dealer of Caterpillar equipment in the state. Riggs isn’t going after Arvest in the case. The county signed a three-year lease, though the purchase order states the grader was sold to the county by Riggs, though Riggs steered the county to Arvest.

Hale said there are problems because Arvest never had the equipment and didn’t lease it to the county because it didn’t own the grader.

The  court agreed to establish a legal fund of $5,000, if needed, for legal fees, coming from the county general fund. A committee made up of Herbert Coleman, Ricky Ryenga, Dennis Pruitt and Pat Grimes will attempt to meet with representatives of Riggs to see if something can be worked out as the county wants to continue purchasing equipment from the company. Hale presented the court with several options and directions the county could go in this case.