Commission approves payment but asks road committee to review $2,407 Walk and Roll tire bill

Morton County commissioners voted July 22 to pay a $2,407 invoice from Walk and Roll in Havre, Montana, for tires and freight used on a packer attachment for county graders, and to forward the invoice to the county road committee for further review. Commissioner Zachmeier moved to approve payment while asking the commission to send the invoice to the road committee for scrutiny; the motion carried after a roll-call vote. Commissioners raised price and procurement concerns after a highway department invoice did not identify a brand and local vendors quoted substantially lower prices. Commissioner Zachmeier said he contacted local tire dealers and found prices ranging from $192 plus tube to $447 and noted that local suppliers could have delivered in two to three days with no freight. He asked the road committee to explain why local vendors were not used. After discussion, Commissioner Buckley clarified that the motion authorized payment but asked for committee review. The commission recorded a standard approval vote and will receive the road committee’s findings at a later meeting.