Ellsworth County hears Road & Bridge equipment woes, OKs fiber permit

Bret Dunlap, Ellsworth County Road & Bridge Superintendent, told the board the gear box "blew out on the large tire machine" and said the wheel loader that "they have issues with every year needs to be replaced," and that he is seeking cost estimates from Hunter to replace the county’s large and small tire machines.

The county commissioners voted 2‑0 to allow Mutual Telephone of Little River to proceed with laying fiber‑optic cable beginning at 1709 25th Road in Ellsworth and along the 25th Road right‑of‑way to Avenue W; a permit number will be provided later. Commissioner Shawn Thomas moved the motion and Commissioner Gregory C. Bender seconded it.

The report from Dunlap framed two budgetary priorities: near‑term repairs after the mechanical failure and potential capital replacement of the loader. The commission did not vote to authorize purchase funds during the meeting; Dunlap said he is collecting estimates from Hunter and did not provide cost figures to the board during remarks.

The fiber permit authorization addresses a separate infrastructure item. Commissioners limited their action to granting permission to proceed in the county right‑of‑way; the motion noted that a formal permit number would be supplied at a later date. The record does not include the name of a Mutual Telephone representative or a permit document in the transcript.

The next procedural steps noted on the record were Dunlap obtaining replacement estimates and the county receiving a permit number for the fiber work. No procurement or purchase vote on road equipment was recorded.