Staff writer
County commissioners voted Monday to purchase a road grader despite the fact that road and bridge superintendent Jesse Hamm said a week ago his department is in need of dump trucks.
When Hamm brought the idea of purchasing a used road grader to commissioners last week, he said he wants to focus on purchasing dump trucks in 2017, but wanted commissioners to know a used 2013 Caterpillar grader was available. Commissioners at that time gave Hamm permission to investigate further.
On Monday, Hamm brought Jeff Bender, prime products sales representative for Foley Equipment in Salina, to the meeting. Bender said the company would sell the grader to the county for $144,300, after allowing $24,100 as trade-in value for a 1995 grader.
The vote to purchase the grader was split, with Randy Dallke and Lori Lalouette in favor and Dianne Novak opposed.
Commissioners also heard a report from economic development director Teresa Huffman on a revolving loan fund with $6,200 loaned out so far.
“I’m working with a local business,” Huffman said. “It’s been very successful so far.”
Huffman also said she is working with a couple in the county who want to open two businesses, but did not specify what sort of businesses they want to open, where the businesses would be located, or what she is doing to assist them.