When the Blaine County Commission met Monday in regular session, it was a straight-forward gathering.
The commission lifted the matter of a lease between the county and Welch State Bank from the table. It had been tabled pending delivery of more information on the lease. The vehicle in question is a Ford F150 police responder unit.
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office had purchased two identical vehicles, using the state purchasing program to obtain best pricing. Another department had also ordered this third truck, but later decided against the purchase. Blaine County intended to purchase other vehicles next year, but this one is at the 2022 pricing, whereas prices are expected to be higher next year. The cost of the truck to the county is about $38,000, and there is a trade in allowance to bring the costs down. The sheriff’s office will make monthly payments on the truck until February.
The county also agreed to ask the Department of Corrections for an increase in the amount it usually is paid to house inmates. The former charge was $27 per day; the new ask is $55.81. County Clerk Jennifer Haigler said DOC may accept the request or come back with a counter offer.
There was a discussion on whether CR 2570 was an open county road. Commissioner Raymond Scheffler said that had been determined by a 2014 survey at the county’s expense. Some residents on the road had requested the right of way be cleared and mowed, citing a dangerous intersection and road conditions.
Scheffler said he and the sheriff would go to the location and find those survey markers and from those markers help the sheriff determine the center line of the road and the rights of way.
In other business, the Longdale Fire Department requested the purchase of five pair of boots, and an interceptor package consisting of bunker pants, coat, wildland pants and coat and suspenders. That cost is anticipated to come to $4,975.
District #1 was inundated with applications for four road crossings and four more road crossing renewals from various energy production or midstream companies. Each with its accompanying fee was approved.
The Blaine County Commission meets at 9 a.m. each Monday save holidays in the courthouse.