To stay ahead of an upcoming price hike, the Hartley City Council authorized the purchase of a backhoe loader during a special meeting on Monday.

A quote from Murphy Tractor & Equipment in Sioux City for a John Deere 310SL backhoe loader was the lowest of three received. Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz recommended ordering the John Deere backhoe immediately, as the company will impose a 5 percent price increase for equipment not ordered by Aug. 1.

Items being ordered with the base unit are a grapple, front auxiliary hydraulics, coupler, pallet forks and a five-year/3,000-hour...