Independence Township Public Works employees will soon have new vehicles since the Board of Trustees voted to spend $96,894 to replace four trucks.
The DPW has been driving around in three 1999 trucks, each with over 100,000 miles on them and one 2001 Chevy with over 200,000 miles.
‘They are rusted out bad,? said Supervisor Pat Kittle. ‘They are getting to that point where you get diminishing returns as far as continuing to hang parts on it and chew up labor dollars trying to keep these things afloat.?
‘I think 14 years is really great to get out of pick-ups,? said Trustee David Lohmeier.
‘Hats off to you for keeping some of these running as long as you have,? said Kittle to DPW Director Linda Richardson.
Of the four new 2013 replacement vehicles the DPW will receive, one is a GMC Savana Cargo van. There are two GMC Sierras; one is a 1,500 Heavy Duty 4-wheel-drive truck and the other is a 1,500 2-wheel- drive truck. A 2,500 Heavy Duty 4-wheel-drive Sierra truck will also be purchased.
Buying the four replacement vehicles was approved in a 7-0 vote on March 19.