Supervisors discuss sale of surplus plow truck and short‑term assistance for Decatur County after shed fire

Winneshiek County supervisors discussed plans to sell a surplus plow truck (Truck 544) and whether the county should provide short‑term assistance to Decatur County after a fire destroyed several tandem plow trucks in that county.

County staff said Truck 544 has not been used since newer Ford trucks were purchased and staff proposed a no‑haggle sale price of $11,000 based on recent comparable sales. Board members noted Decatur County had requested help after losing five of eight tandem plow trucks to a shed fire. Members agreed the county could help but generally preferred the buyer travel to inspect and pick up the truck rather than county staff delivering it, both to limit additional county expense and to allow the buyer to inspect the vehicle in person.

Why it matters: Decatur County’s loss of plow trucks is an immediate operational gap for winter maintenance. Winneshiek supervisors signaled willingness to assist a neighboring county while balancing their own equipment reserves and maintenance needs.

Key details and context • Proposed sale price for Truck 544: $11,000 (no‑haggle listing based on recent auction sales of similar trucks). • Truck description: dedicated plow truck with a permanent sander attachment, not a general‑purpose dump truck; limited utility for hauling dirt/rock in summer. • County reserve considerations: selling Truck 544 would reduce the county’s number of reserve plow trucks; supervisors discussed keeping at least one spare in reserve.

Board remarks and next steps: supervisors suggested asking Decatur County representatives to inspect and collect the vehicle themselves to avoid delivery costs and to ensure they know what they are getting. No formal motion to change sale terms or to donate/loan a truck to Decatur County was recorded; staff will proceed with the advertised sale process and coordinate as requested.