Commissioners provisionally accept Davis Township grader transfer terms; ask staff to draft contract

Henry County commissioners on Dec. 23 voted to accept the terms presented by Davis Township for transferring a 2018 motor grader to the county in exchange for maintenance and blading services.

County staff described the Davis Township proposal: the township would convey a motor grader and associated attachments to the county, and the county would perform grader/blading services for the township on an agreed schedule (the transcript references a 200-hour-per-year benchmark and a later billing rate of $130 per hour for hours beyond an initial allotment). Commissioners expressed support for the proposal but emphasized the need for a written contract and a legal review before final transfer.

Commissioners made and seconded a motion to accept the terms as presented and to proceed with drafting a formal contract; the motion carried. Staff and the county attorney were directed to draft and review the contract language, including clarifying scope, liability and whether townships have the legal authority to transfer and sell equipment in this manner.

Why it matters: The proposed arrangement would allow the county to take ownership of heavy equipment while providing townships with periodic maintenance service — a recurring operational responsibility that carries equipment-liability and budget implications. Commissioners repeatedly stressed they needed an attorney-prepared contract and legal review to avoid unintended legal exposure.

Next steps: County staff and counsel will draft the contract and return it for final commissioner approval. The commission recorded the initial acceptance of terms but did not finalize or sign a binding transfer at the Dec. 23 meeting.