Ohio County declares equipment surplus, approves immediate purchase of one tractor with interim borrowing

Ohio County Fiscal Court voted to declare multiple pieces of road equipment surplus and to purchase a new tractor immediately, authorizing interim borrowing until FEMA reimbursements arrive.

During the road committee report, members listed equipment proposed for surplus sale on GovDeals.com: a 2009 John Deere 7130, a 2007 John Deere 6615 (as read in the transcript), a pothole patcher (model year not specified), a 2001 John Deere mowing tractor, a 2018 model (type not specified), and a 1999 Champion grader. The committee recommended directing sale proceeds toward equipment replacement.

The court discussed purchasing one new tractor (referred to in the transcript as a “Motrin” tractor) priced at $257,000 and carrying a five-year warranty. Members said some surplus equipment is nonoperational and proceeds would help fund replacement; the court also discussed using incoming FEMA disaster reimbursements in combination with surplus proceeds.

The motion approved purchasing that single tractor immediately and authorized Candace (identified in the meeting as the treasurer) to borrow funds until FEMA reimbursements are received; a 4.99% interest rate was cited for the interim borrowing. Members said the first round of FEMA reimbursements should arrive within three to six months; the transcript notes an estimated total FEMA reimbursement of about $1,180,000 for the county but did not attach that figure to a formal motion.

Court members specified they would limit today's purchase to the one tractor because the quoted price is set to rise by $12,000 if not purchased by a certain date. The court voted to approve the surplus declaration and the purchase motion; the transcript records a roll call for the related motion at the end of the segment, with members answering in the affirmative and the presiding officer declaring the motion passed.