According to a news story which appeared in a local online daily news site yesterday, 12/28/2009, Gasconade County has received bids on a NEW $100,000 tandem dump truck. Amazing that the county has solicited bids for a NEW truck during a period of time in which the county has had to cut employee benefits, withhold wage increases, and withhold money for basic repairs to the county courthouse! Truly amazing!
Road department "officials" are reviewing three bids recently submitted and will make their formal recommendation to Commissioners Jost, Lairmore and Penning next week.
Hermann Hearsay has studied the county's financial condition and opposes the purchase of a new truck at this particular time. The county should not purchase a NEW truck at this time when the county's budget is so severely strained. Hermann Hearsay asks the County Commissioners to answer these questions:
- Why is a NEW truck needed? Is the used truck it will replace beyond reasonable repair at a much lower cost? How much would it cost to make needed repairs on the county's used truck? How much would it cost to purchase a serviceable used truck in good condition?
- Is the County Commission proposing to buy the NEW truck outright or lease it over a period of years? If the truck is to be leased, what will be the total cost to the county over the entire term of the lease?
- Has the county investigated alternative means for hauling county materials? Has the county investigated the feasibility of contracting out the hauling of its materials with a custom hauler? What did the cost analysis reveal? (In this cost analysis, the county should be careful to consider fuel and oil expense savings, tire replacement and repair expense savings, other maintenance expense savings, and the potential for labor cost savings and staff reductions.)
- Would it not be a better use of county funds to repair and upgrade real non-depreciating county assets, in particular the county courthouse? Why is it that there is never any money for needed repairs and renovation of the county courthouse, but there is always money available to purchase depreciating assets like trucks and other equipment for the road and bridge department?
Clark Kant
Editor In Chief
