By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners hopes it will receive favorable bids for two major purchases, which could cost an estimated $557,000. The new units would replace a Unimog truck, a 1964 benching wing truck and rebuilding the motor of a 1969 Oshkosh blower truck.The new snow blower unit cost estimate is $307,000, and a new benching wing truck cost estimate is $250,000. Both are used for winter road work.The Highway Department already has $173,000 set aside for a new snow blower unit. Commissioners discussed the purchases at their Tuesday meeting. They will wait for bids before deciding exactly how to pay for the equipment, but discussed funding options.Rock County Engineer Mark Sehr suggested a bond of $384,000 to cover the purchases.The board said it would also consider spending department reserves and stopping further purchases for five years.The county board has the authority to issue capital notes without a referendum for county capital equipment.Al Hartz, shop foreman/mechanic, said the department has been using in-house fabricated parts because parts are no longer available for the equipment."We’ve been in junk yards as far as New York state to find parts for it," Hartz said.If he had to prioritize, Sehr said the Unimog blower replacement is the most urgent purchase.Postponing other equipment purchases would mean a chance of decreased service from the department.Sehr said, "I guess it’s a customer service question, because they are so expensive. These are machines that aren’t used a lot, but when they’re needed, they are needed."For example, during the winter of 1996-97, crews put 350 hours on them. Other years, they aren’t needed as frequently.They are used for large snow removal jobs, when other machines aren’t as effective.The board will make a decision as soon as the bids come in because interest rates for bonds won’t get any lower if the board waits. Also, steel prices are expected to rise, so purchase prices probably won’t improve.In other business Tuesday, the board:oAgreed to work on an agreement that could merge the Rock County Collaborative with Pipestone County, which doesn’t have one created yet.Rock County could save in administrative costs by sharing the program, which is a youth intervention program involving law enforcement, Family Services and health groups, among others.Family Services Director Randy Ehlers said that even though Pipestone doesn’t have a Collaborative formed already, Rock County will still benefit from the merger."We’re not going to bring Rock County down to bring Pipestone County up, and they understand that," Ehlers said.oPointed out that the newly published plat books listed the incorrect property owners in some cases. The mapping company named some "alternate property taxpayers" as property owners. Alternate taxpayers are usually estate managers who pay taxes on behalf of the property owner.oGave Sheriff Mike Winkels approval to apply for a grant of $164,000 for new dispatching equipment, including a new console, 911 upgrade and radio tower improvements. The changes would mean better overall quality, and ensure that emergency calls from cell phones can be properly tracked and services dispatched.The county also received another grant of $16,570 for law enforcement radios, radar equipment and ambulance equipment.Both grants are from Homeland Security Emergency Management.
