Daniels County road supervisor wins approval to hire assistant and purchase mower cooler

Daniels County commissioners voted Aug. 5 to hire a road department applicant and to authorize immediate equipment purchases after a detailed report from Road Supervisor Michael Berson.

Berson told the board the applicant, identified as Colton Gold Nelson, is about 22 years old and available to start once pre-employment drug screening is complete. "I would love to stick him in a mower for 2 months," Berson said, arguing the extra labor would help during the peak mowing season. Commissioners approved the hire pending standard checks.

Berson also described overheating and sight-glass failures on a recently acquired mower (referred to as a 40105/4105 in department notes). He recommended adding an oil cooler to manage mid-day heat that causes the mower to run poorly; the purchase was estimated in discussion at roughly $5,000. After brief discussion about alternatives (increasing cooling capacity vs. installing a cooler), commissioners moved and approved immediate purchase and installation. "Either that or you get more capacity and more capacity doesn't cool it so much," a commissioner observed during the discussion.

Board members and staff also reviewed fleet items including a slipping transmission on a parts pickup and the potential availability of a lightly used super-cab pickup from other county services; commissioners agreed the pickup transmission repair could be deferred to winter if the vehicle remains serviceable for local runs.

Next steps assigned at the meeting include completing the hire paperwork and ordering the oil cooler; the Road Department will report back when the part is installed.