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After much discussion, county will purchase new plow truck
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“Can we get by for one more year with this truck?” Houston County Commissioner Tom Bjerke asked County Highway Superintendent Tom Molling during the March 24 commissioners meeting.
“We can probably squeeze one more year out of just about anything, but in this case I don’t think it would be smart for the county to wait,” Molling responded.
Molling and the county commissioners were discussing whether or not to replace a 12-year old tandem snow plow truck. In the past, the county had used a 10-year rotation with their fleet of trucks, but went to a 12-year cycle to squeeze a little more out of each piece of equipment, in an effort to save taxpayers’ money.
The truck in question has 184,000 miles and 7,660 hours on it.
“To put this in perspective, if that truck had been operated at an average speed of 50 miles per hour, instead of 25 miles per hour, (the average speed while plowing snow) it would have about 400,000 miles on it,” Molling noted.
Molling continued that the amount of hours on the truck isn’t the biggest reason why he felt the county needed to purchase a new rig. In 2010 all large trucks will be required to meet much stiffer emissions standards. And to meet those standards, truck motors will cost approximately $10,000 more and will be much more expensive to operate.
The new emission standards will require diesel engines to also burn a nitrogen mixture, which will cost anywhere from $13 to $25 per gallon. One gallon of the high-priced mixture must be added to every 25 gallons of diesel.
“We don’t know a lot about these engines, as far as repairing them,”
Molling added. “If we purchase a 2009 model, it will give us another year to find out more about these new motors.”
“The new standards coming next year is why so many people are getting out of the business,” Commissioner Dave Corcoran pointed out.
Molling told the board the county has been purchasing Sterling trucks for the past 20 years, but they are no longer in business.
“We did quite a bit of research, and after talking with a number of counties, decided to go with Mac trucks,” Molling explained. “We can get a Mac tandem with the Minnesota state bid contract through Ness Trucks of the Twin Cities for $93,839.” That figure would be for the cab and chassis.
Molling obtained two bids for all the equipment needed to outfit the new truck. The low bid of $79,031 would include the plow, wing, box, hydraulics, hitch and underbody.
The county can get between $35,000 and $38,000 trade-in value on the 12-year old truck. Molling noted there are two parties interested in purchasing the old truck.
The county board approved the bid from Ness Trucks for the new cab and chassis and the low bid for all equipment to outfit it for snow plow duties. The county will put the old truck up for bids. If the county receives a bid for the old truck that is higher than the trade-in allowance, they will sell the truck outright.
In other action:
STS contract approved
The board approved a contract with the State of Minnesota for the Sentence To Serve (STS) program from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. County Personnel Director Tim Comstock explained that the STS program helps persons fulfill their community service obligations while under state supervision.
The county has utilized the STS program with a number of projects, including much of the demolition work on the Meyer building. STS crews were also used to help with the flood clean-up efforts following the 2007 and 2008 floods.
Solum house issue
Stating that the issue was being handled by the county attorney, and no action from the board was required, Board Chairman Larry Connery moved past an item listed in the “discussion” section of the agenda that had to do with the Matthew and Beth Solum home in Spring Grove Township.
The Solums sent the county a lengthy document requesting a variance to bring their home into compliance with county zoning laws. The Solums and the county have been at odds for several years over the zoning issue. The First District Court and the District Court of Appeals reviewed the case and both courts ruled in favor of the county.
The Solums appealed the case to the State Supreme Court last year, but the high court refused to hear the case in December. On Jan. 20 the county sent a letter to the Solums giving them 60 days to explain how they planned to bring their home into compliance.
The Solums’ request for a variance was dated March 19.
Labor Day bike tour
The board gave Houston County EDA Director Joyce Iverson approval to have the County EDA serve as the local sponsor for a bike riding event, which will take place during the Labor Day weekend.
Each year the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota chooses a different state park to serve as a location point and then conducts a series of bike tours during the Labor Day weekend. Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia was chosen by the state council this year.
Iverson explained that the various communities in the county will be hosting different events and tours for the bikers. The County EDA will act as the coordinating body for the event.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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