Marshall County Commissioners approve Ford pickup trucks and new tile jetter for Highway Department

The Marshall County Commissioners this week unanimously approved the purchase of three Ford pickup trucks for the Highway Department, choosing the higher-priced bid based on performance and long-term value. The county also completed the purchase of a replacement tile jetter.

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters presented competing bids for Ford and Dodge pickup trucks for two crew-cab models and one standard cab from the Truck Center.

The Ford bids came in at $47,545 for the standard cab and $52,785 for the crew cab. The Dodge bids were lower, at $46,619 for the standard cab and $48,933 for the crew cab.

Despite the higher price tag, Peters recommended the Ford trucks, citing several key advantages: a heavier payload capacity, better fuel economy, and a military-grade aluminum body. He said the plan is to keep the trucks in service for 10 years. All three trucks are ¾-ton with four-wheel drive.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Ford purchase, satisfied with the detailed justification provided for selecting the higher-priced vehicles. The trucks will be included in the lease-to-purchase agreement previously approved by the commissioners.

Peters also reported that the county has completed the purchase of a new tile jetter. The Highway Department had been operating a 2002 tile jetter with a Zenith motor that was in need of service, with repair costs estimated at around $12,000. The book value on the old machine was only $6,000 to $8,000, making repairs difficult to justify.

Peters said he located a slightly used jetter in excellent condition priced at $59,000, with the vendor offering $6,000 in trade-in value for the old unit. The commissioners approved the purchase as a cost-effective upgrade for the department. The tile jetter was paid out of the Cum Bridge Fund.