Daniels County road supervisor wins approval to hire seasonal worker and buy mower cooler

Road Supervisor Michael Berson told the Daniels County commissioners that the road crew needs two near-term actions to keep summer mowing on schedule: a replacement oil cooler for a new mower that is overheating and a recommendation to hire a 22-year-old applicant.

"The oil's getting hot…we're melting out our sight glass in the back of that thing," Berson said, describing how the tractor’s oil temperature was degrading performance and creating leaks. He estimated the cooler would be about "five grand" and pushed for prompt purchase so the mower can complete two months of intensive mowing work.

Commissioners voted to approve the purchase after a motion; the board recorded the voice vote as in favor with no opposition. Berson also asked to move forward with a job offer for the applicant he named during the report. The board moved and seconded a hiring motion and approved it without recorded opposition.

Berson told commissioners the new hire would work on mowing crews and that the department expects to complete pre-employment screening including a drug test. He also updated the board on other vehicle maintenance items: a pickup with a slipping transmission that the department can defer to spring if necessary and ongoing brake and air-line work on trailers.

The approvals clear the road crew to install the oil cooler and complete the hire process. Commissioners did not set a procurement deadline in the meeting; Berson said he expected parts to arrive "reasonably timed" and planned to do much of the cooler installation in the field.

The road report covered additional operational details — spray program adjustments for broadleaf and persistent weeds next season, use of a sprayer-rigged pickup for fire suppression, and options for using nearby crushed-aggregate material as a base for road rebuilding — all items Berson said his crew will continue to monitor.