Leon Hobson didn’t have many good things to say about a 2001 Ford pickup the county purchased new before he took the Riley County Public Works helm in 2003.
The vehicle in question is not like many half-ton pickups in the county fleet. It houses three fuel tanks and is powered by natural gas. It also takes 12 hours to fuel and has a range of under 200 miles when filled up.
“This pickup has not been the best of purchases since we’ve had it,” Hobson said. “It’s been in the shop as much as it’s been out and operational. A lot of times it’s parked and it hasn’t been a very dependable vehicle for us.”
Hobson told county commissioners the certification on the fuel tanks are up and that — along with other upgrades — will cost the county $6,000 on a pickup the county paid $14,000 for in 2001.
Hobson said it was difficult finding someone to work on the pickup and that Dick Edwards opted not to
work on it. The only certified mechanic the county found is in Clay Center.
“We just don’t feel like it’s worth the money to put into that,” Hobson said.
Commissioners agreed to auction the vehicle and approved Hobson permission to seek a new truck — and one a bit more practical.
Commissioner Robert Boyd asked why the truck was purchased in the first place.
“That wasn’t me,” Hobson said. “We have the knowledge of the people here today, and hopefully that knowledge is passed on.”
Commission Chairman Ron Wells hypothesized commissioners at the time were taking a gamble on a then-trendy fuel source for vehicles.
“You don’t want to be the flash in the pan,” he said. “When these new things come out they’re highly touted and heavily advertised.
“It’s a learning process.”
Hobson told commissioners a new pickup can be purchased with existing Public Works funds.
In other items, commissioners opened bids for a 12-yard tandem axle dump truck, also for Public Works. Bids averaged near $150,000.
Commissioners also signed the 2016 District Court budget totaling $169,225.
