2017 Agency Winner
Clearwater County: Ditching Bucket

• Problem: Clearwater County needed a better solution for ditching along the county roads than a backhoe or loader bucket and a grader. We were looking for an attachment of some sort that would save time, wear and tear on the machine and create a better ditch line.
• Solution: At that time, our County Supervisor Rob Simon, saw a video of an attachment to a loader that would allow the machine to run parallel to the ditch line while loading ditch material. He took measurements of an attachment that was in Skamania, Washington and decided that the crew a the Clearwater County Road Department could build one very similar to it, with some slight modifications, that would work on our 966 Cat loader.
• Labor, Equipment, Materials: Material costs were $8469.98. That included: plate metal, valves, hoses, fittings and connectors to completely build the attachment. Labor to build it was $2499.90. Equipment used to build it was a welder, cutting torch, and an overhead hoist.
• Expenses: Total cost to build the attachment was $10,969.88.
• Savings: The use of this bucket attachment prevents loss of gravel and other roadway surface materials because it runs in line with the ditch. It also does a much better job of cleaning the ditch, saves time ditching and wear and tear on our backhoe, as it mounts to the Cat loader. Another cost savings is that it eliminates the need for a grader to come along behind the backhoe to align and clean up the ditch line. The ditching bucket has been extremely beneficial as it has worked very efficiently for its intended use making it well worth every penny of its fabrication costs.