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Houston County tables decision on $215,171 MCIT offer for rollover plow truck
Summary
County staff recommended accepting MCIT's $215,171 valuation for a plow truck damaged in a March rollover, but commissioners voted to table the decision while they gather more information about repair costs, resale options and MCIT's disposition of the truck.
Houston County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to table action on whether to accept a $215,171 payment offer from MCIT for a county plow truck that rolled onto its side during a March snow event.
County staff presented repair and market valuations and told the board MCIT's independent market valuation put the truck's value at about $216,136 and that MCIT had offered a settlement check of $215,171. Staff also said the insurer's repair estimate for the truck was $159,292.42 (not including potential electrical repairs) and discussed the possibility that the truck could receive a salvage title if electrical problems emerged.
The staff recommendation was to accept MCIT's valuation and consider the vehicle a total loss, with MCIT to issue the check minus a $1,000 deductible and $35 in title and transfer fees. Commissioners raised questions about the valuation of the truck chassis versus the stainless-steel live-bottom box and about the cost to buy back the box from MCIT if the county wanted to mount it on a new chassis.
County staff said comparable new chassis prices for a replacement truck were in the neighborhood of $158,000 for the chassis alone, and that box repair or replacement work was estimated at roughly $91,000. Staff also said an alternate repair estimate that included additional items could total about $160,282.42 (including the deductible). The truck has roughly 25,000 miles and was stored at Ness's repair shop in Eau Claire while MCIT and county staff work toward a final disposition.
Commissioners asked staff to determine whether MCIT would sell the repaired or replacement body back to the county and to get more detailed laser and electrical inspections before deciding. Because MCIT is pressing to resolve the claim and stop storage charges, staff asked the board for direction; commissioners unanimously chose to table the decision for about two weeks to obtain more information rather than accept the offer immediately.
The item was tabled, and staff were directed to return with additional details on buy-back costs, the results of any further inspections, and a clearer net cost comparison between repairing the existing unit and purchasing a new chassis and body combination.
Action on this agenda item was tabled; no formal payment or sale was approved at the meeting.
