County to buy used gravel trailer

A used R-Way belly dump semitrailer will be making its way from North Dakota to Hamilton County soon, following action Monday by the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. Near the top of a fairly light agenda on Monday was a proposal to purchase the 2012 model trailer at a price of $32,000 for use by the highway department. 
Highway Supt. Jeremy Brandt was on hand to present the bid, saying he had found two trailers to be used for hauling rock in North Dakota. He said the quoted price includes delivery and that new trailers are more than twice the price, coming in at between $70,000 and $80,000. The board approved the purchase.
On the subject of equipment, the board also heard a presentation on Monday from Jake Ryba, a sales representative for Murphy Tractor and Equipment in Grand Island. The John Deere dealership is hoping to sell the county a John Deere motor grader. 
Board chairman Rich Nelson commented that the presentation was part of the highway department’s program of replacing one motor grader each year. He said the board would hear from a representative of Caterpillar equipment at an upcoming meeting. 
As the kickoff to budget season, the commissioners also listened to a short presentation from Charles McGraw, the transportation director for RYDE Transit-Community Partnership of Mid Nebraska regarding the agency’s annual budget request. McGraw said the request was going up $2,800 this year to a total asking of $17,920. The request for local funds is a precursor to the agency’s requests for federal funding which makes up much of its annual budget.
McGraw reported that monthly ridership in the county ranges between 340 and 350 rides, but some months the number may be as high as 400. 
The board approved Resolution 1189 which authorizes the agency to apply for funding. 
In a sign of spring, commissioners had a visit from Aurora Chamber Executive Director Justise Rhoden, who was requesting use of the courthouse parking lot for the summer Market on the Square which begins June 7. The board approved the request with the understanding that adjustments may need to be made to the selling area due to the planned courthouse exterior renovation that will begin this spring.