The Dallas County Secondary Roads Department will have some new machinery soon that will make mowing a much simpler task.

County Roadside Biologist Jim Uthe presented a purchase request for two Diamond Mowers to the Board of Supervisors. The package includes two 60-inch side and rear twin rotary mowers, with combo lifts, mounts, and accessories. They will be customized at the Diamond factory in South Dakota to fit two of the county’s tractors. The total cost for both mowers and installation is $68,256. At first, the Supervisors were hesitant to approve the purchases due to the high price tag.

However, Uthe explained that 15 other counties in Iowa are currently using similar Diamond mowers, and they each swear by their durability, reliability, and safety. Uthe said the new mowers would operate without having a portion sticking out in the road like the traditional bat-wing mowers, making them safer to use around busy roads. Additionally, he said they typically just need minimal maintenance from year to year, and they’ve been known to last for nearly 20 years. Their current mowers typically last 18 months at best before needing to be replaced.

The Supervisors were convinced of the benefits and agreed to the purchase request.