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Council OKs $75,000 to replace county Weights and Measures vehicle after rust and frame concerns
Summary
Allen County approved a $75,000 appropriation to replace a specialized Weights and Measures vehicle after a service center inspection found structural and frame corrosion that the garage manager classified as a safety replacement.
The Allen County Council approved a $75,000 appropriation on Wednesday to replace a specialized Weights and Measures vehicle after county fleet staff advised the machine’s frame and mounts were no longer safe.
Jill Williamson, controller for the Allen County Board of Commissioners, said the vehicle in question is a 2008 one‑ton truck with a specialized prover unit mounted to the bed; while it has only about 56,000 miles, county service staff found significant rust on the frame and a crack at a leaf‑spring mount that the service manager judged to be a safety issue. “It scored a 28. Anything over a 25 is immediate replacement,” Williamson said.
Mark McClure, director of the county Weights and Measures Department, explained the prover unit is removable and can be unbolted and mounted to another vehicle, but the department needs a replacement that can accommodate the specialized equipment. Williamson told council purchasing researched current pricing and suggested $75,000 as a worst‑case estimate; staff hope to find a used vehicle to lower the cost.
The appropriation passed 6-1. The Weights and Measures program does not collect fees and the expense will be paid from the county general fund; Williamson said any unused appropriation will be unappropriated and returned to county funds.
Council members asked about repair options, usage patterns and fuel economy; McClure said the vehicle is primarily used in summer months and that the prover is necessary for testing fuel pumps and high‑flow gas dispensers.
