By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Highway Department will soon buy two new trucks for $492,894.
The County Commissioners approved buying two vehicles earlier this month, but Highway Supervisor Shawn Bonar located a truck that was available sooner and at a better price. Bonar stated the truck was misordered by another municipality but included everything the county would need.
This new truck from Selking International will cost $242,000; the previously-approved Stoops truck will cost $250,894. The change was approved 3-0 by the commissioners.
Bonar also stressed that these were both great deals, especially to receive them so soon.
“I walked through the fleet with (Bonar) back in November, and it’s pretty sad,” Stringer said. “I don’t know why we have trucks that are in the ‘90s still in the fleet … We’re investing in county garage, we’re investing in employees — we’ve got to invest in the equipment. I don’t want to spend money on what we don’t need, but I don’t know how we continue with what we have.”
In light of the fair weather, Bonar added that the department has started converting County 500W between 800S and 900S. He said he hoped to begin on County Road 200W between 1000N and 1100N soon.
In other updates:
• Jeff Reed and Michelle Blount were appointed to the tourism board.
• Stringer provided a report of the jail from Sheriff Scott Holliday — as of Tuesday, 65 inmates were being housed in the jail, 29 of which were pre-trial holds for the Circuit Court, 20 were pre-trial holds for the Superior Court, eight were Level 6 felons, and three were from the Department of Correction.
holly@news-banner.com
