Wilson County approves purchase of chipper truck from Houston dealer using ARPA funds

Wilson County Commissioners voted Dec. 16 to purchase a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado MD work truck with a chipper bed from Knapp Chevrolet in Houston and to fund the purchase with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money moved from the Expo Center allocation.

Commissioner Peridola presented three bids and described a local Houston offer that could be delivered without excessive shipping. The county auditor read the dealer’s description and price and noted statutory requirements for single-source purchases. The auditor said the court must formally determine whether the vehicle is a single-source item under statute and that such a determination requires transparency about vendor availability.

The auditor summarized the dealer’s information and price: "The total purchase price was $98,452.75," and noted a $3,800 rebate and $557.75 in fees included in that amount. Commissioners discussed shipping and buy‑board availability and said extensive searches had failed to identify comparable local vendors able to supply the specific chipper-equipped truck.

Commissioner Peridola moved to authorize the purchase and to transfer funds from the ARPA allocation for the Expo Center to cover the cost, with a not-to‑exceed cap of $110,000; Commissioner King seconded the motion. The court called for a voice vote, the judge voted in the affirmative, and the motion passed.

The record indicates the purchase will follow standard dealer procedures for registration, titling and licensing; the auditor reminded commissioners that a W‑9 and other paperwork will be required and that the court’s single‑source finding should be explicit in the record.

What’s next: staff will complete procurement paperwork with the dealer and arrange logistics; the county auditor will confirm vendor and paperwork compliance after the court’s authorization.