Staff writer
After an hour-long discussion, Marion County Commission decided against purchasing the 2008 Van Keppel asphalt recycler that the Road and Bridge Department previously rented.
With the 2013 budget already approved, commissioners said that there was no way the county could start payments until the beginning of next year. The bid from Van Keppel was $4,432 a month over four years of payments or $3,588 a month over five years of payments. The cost to purchase the machine was about $200,000.
Commissioner Randy Dallke suggested that it might be more cost effective to spend more money on a new machine that would possibly last longer. The 2008 machine already has over 800 hours of work logged. He also said the county did not need to do anything until February before a new season of roadwork would begin. The county has a 1985 asphalt recycler. Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford was worried about the wear on the old machine.
In other business:
- Crawford said striping should begin for 40th and 60th Roads next week. It would be the last step in the county road projects from this past summer.
- A sign bid was approved from D.C. Wholesale of Concordia for $5,099 for stop signs, roadwork signs, and other signs. National Sign Company of Ottawa submitted a bid of $5,099.
- Sheriff Robert Craft said his office has been completely moved to the new jail facility this past week.