City getting new truck (03/07/08)

The city's wastewater department is getting a new truck.

Members of a local board voted Thursday to purchase a 2008 Ford F-Series truck for the Portland Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The truck will be purchased from Fincannon - Ford - Mercury, Hartford City, at a cost of $20,171. The price reflects a trade in value for a 1998 F-250.

The older truck needs to be replaced because it has needed several costly repairs, recently, Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said this morning. The Fincannon quote was chosen by the Portland Board of Works because it was the lowest of the three, he said.

Ken Kunkle Chevrolet, Portland, also submitted a quote of $21,186, and Les Wenning Motors, Fort Recovery, quoted $23,371. Both prices reflect the trade in value.

Also Thursday, board members voted to grant one leak adjustment request and deny another.

A request made by Clarence Shawver, 206 W. Lafayette St., was turned down by the board because the leak did not occur between the water meter and the house, Hosier said.

The city ordinance states that the sewage portion of a large water bill caused by a leak may be adjusted down to a three-month average prior to the leak if it occurs between the water meter and the residence.

A leak adjustment request made by Ricky Caldwell, 906 N. Franklin St., however, was granted by the board.

In other business, board members voted to write off delinquent water/sewer accounts as bad debts.

There are six accounts that total $1,284.38.[[In-content Ad]]