PERRY COUNTY, Ind. — The Perry County Council on Thursday approved fund transfers to free up money for new highway equipment, including three replacement dump trucks, and agreed to advertise an additional appropriation request for October to cover remaining costs.

Steve (highway official) told the council the department is ordering three single-axle dump trucks now to lock in current prices; truck beds and stainless-steel salt beds are expected to be available in January or February. He said the department has not bought new trucks since 2018 and that some existing units are inoperable.

What the council approved and will pursue

- Transfers approved at the meeting moved existing appropriated funds into new-equipment line items. One transfer described in the presentation shifted $200,000 from a bituminous line item to new equipment to begin purchase of trucks. Staff outlined additional transfers from other highway funds totaling $411,000 that would also move into new-equipment accounts. Council members agreed to advertise an additional appropriation request for October to cover further expected costs (staff estimated an additional $100,000–$150,000 would be needed, and larger totals discussed would bring the full package into the mid-six-figure range).

- Staff said bids for trucks are underway; the department is working with multiple dealers and expected to advertise procurement on Monday. Steve said Kenworth and Freightliner had indicated price stability for now, and that international could not meet specifications.

Why it matters: County highway equipment replacement affects winter snow removal capacity, road maintenance scheduling and long-term capital budgeting. Council members pressed for a formal replacement/rotation plan and asked for historical data on equipment life to inform future budgeting.

Discussion highlights

- Replacement plan request: Council members asked staff to prepare a vehicle-equipment rotation or replacement plan similar to one requested earlier from the sheriff’s department so the county can budget for recurring replacements rather than relying on ad hoc transfers.

- Funding tradeoffs: Members discussed the tradeoff of using bituminous funds (normally used for paving) versus buying trucks. Staff said the bid timing and the need to lock current truck prices justified the transfers; staff also stressed that the county’s paving program requires different prep funding and that $200,000 cannot substitute for full pavement projects.

- Surplus and disposal: Staff said older trucks in poor condition would be removed from service and likely sold for scrap; insurance and licensing would be handled before disposal.

Next steps and actions

- Council approved the proposed transfers into new-equipment accounts and agreed to advertise the additional-appropriation request in October. Staff will advertise bids Monday and return with formal appropriation requests after bid results.

The council’s vote to move the transfers and proceed with advertising the additional appropriation was recorded as a motion to approve; the motion was made by Corey (council member) and seconded by Gail (council member).