County replaces totaled pickup

At a meeting dominated by closed-door sessions, county commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $39,390 to buy a 2021 Dodge 2500 Tradesman to replace a Road and Bridges truck totaled after hitting a deer last fall.

The county received an insurance settlement of $3,643.70 from the totaled truck, a 2002 Chevrolet.

Shop foreman Tom Holub proposed buying the truck from Midway Motors in Hillsboro. It has nearly 51,000 miles on it but carries a two-year, 125,000-mile warranty with a $100 deductible.

No other bids were presented.

Commissioners also agreed to Holub’s request to sell a crane previously discussed as surplus on the online auction site Purple Wave.

Commission chairman Jonah Gehring volunteered to serve as the county’s representative on a task force looking at safety along US-56.

Commissioners also hear from rural Goessel resident Alisha Weiser, suggesting that the county pay for an advisory referendum on wind farm expansion.

After discussing but taking no action on a proposed no-bid contract for topographic work for a new county building near Peabody, they then adjourned into two executive sessions.

The first, for 15 minutes, was to discuss hiring for an unspecified position, presumably emergency medical services director.

Commissioners allowed physician Don Hodson to attend along with administrator Tina Spence.

The second, for 45 minutes, was to conduct an employment interview with a candidate to lead the county’s ambulance department.

Hodson, Spencer, and county counselor Brad Jantz were included in that meeting.

No decisions were announced afterward.