County approves raft of equipment spending
Staff writer
Marion County commissioners approved equipment spending Monday.
County administrator Tina Spencer said the county’s special equipment fund started the year with about $326,538 in carryover, which was way more than expected, but said committed purchases and other obligations leave little room for additional spending.
“We’re going to need to really be thinking about increasing,” Spencer said of future transfers.
Commissioners approved seeking lease-purchase bids for the truck and bed.
Commissioners also approved repairing a county chip spreader at a cost of about $56,255. A new unit would cost more than $400,000, while a used one would cost about $220,000.
Renting equipment could approach that cost quickly, Commissioner Clarke Dirks said.
Commissioner Jonah Gehring questioned why the county moved away from micro-surfacing.
“It just seems like a lot of expenses that we get hit with trying to save money,” Gehring said.
Some projects “did not hold up,” Spencer said, but the county could revisit the method during budget discussions.
Commissioners also heard a quarterly update from treasurer Tina Groening.
She said moving collection of delinquent personal property taxes from the sheriff’s office to her office “is going really well.”
“It’s been very efficient,” she said.
Her office is working with PayIt to begin accepting credit card payments.
“It should be up and running by June,” she said.
Commissioners approved planning and zoning and board of zoning appeals appointments for Brandy Smith, Josh Weiser, Chasen Gann, and Dax Kannady.
Each commissioner will appoint one member to the five-member appeals board. One position remains open from for commissioner Dave Crofoot’s district, as he was absent Monday.