The Starke County Commissioners at their meeting this week heard from Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler, who told the commissioners that he has received five quotes on trucks and chassis for the department and requested permission to purchase at least one truck before going to the county council to request permission to purchase the other three trucks that he says his department needs.
Ritzler said he has negotiated with Freightliner to purchase a truck at a discounted price, and he said the expense is included in his line item this year and been factored into the budget. Since the truck and chassis would be purchased from two separate vendors, and each expense is under $150,000, County Attorney Martin Lucas said he would likely not need to request sealed bids and price quotes would suffice.
Since the cost of the vehicle was budgeted for the highway department, the commissioners approved the purchase of a truck and chassis. For the other three vehicles, however, Ritzler will have to appear before the county council to request additional appropriations in order to make any future vehicle purchases.
