Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden said this week 16 dump trucks in his fleet broke down.
With dwindling funds from the state, which in turn causes less funding at the county level, money hasn't been available to purchase new trucks.
The Kosciusko County Council remedied that Thursday night as they approved an additional $1.5 million for new trucks and highway projects.
County Commissioners Bob Conley, Brad Jackson and Ron Truex made the request Thursday along with Tilden during the council's first meeting of 2011.
The council didn't meet in January due to a lack of business.
"All of us hate taking money out of savings because it is a band-aid," said Jackson. "But we have no other options."
Conley noted at a certain point it becomes a safety and liability issue for the county.
The plan is to purchase four new trucks, which Tilden said would cost about $135,000 each.
Tilden said the county has looked at buying used trucks but less and less are available.
The exorbitant cost, said Tilden, is due in part to new emission standards for diesel engines, which has increased the cost by about $30,000.
The highway department has four trucks currently with more than 400,000 miles, 12 with more than 300,000 miles and nine with at least 200,000.
Tilden said you take the number of miles and multiply it by three because of the wear and tear the trucks see.
Truex lauded the highway department for their efforts of clearing roads during last week's snow storm despite their truck situation.
County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell gave the council the 2010 board of finance report.
She gave the report to the county commissioners Jan. 18.
Mitchell noted that interest rates for government entities has declined sharply.
The county earned $396,000 less in interest in 2010 than it did in 2009.
In 2009, the county saw a $405,000 decrease from 2008.
Mitchell did note that Truex was able to get Lake City Bank to raise its rate from .10 to .35 after discussions with the bank. Truex serves on the Lakeland Financial Corporation's board of directors.
Mitchell once again expressed her concerns that with new state laws regarding the collateralization requirements of government money by banks, that it will become harder and harder for government entities to find banks that will take their money.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert received permission to replace a position in the sheriff's department.
Deputy Craig Bale recently retired after 17 years with the department.
Goshert will also be replacing two jailer positions.
County Administrator Ron Robinson presented several amendments to the 2011 salary ordinance for the county.
The changes were to allow for the pay cap for a housekeeping position to increase to $10 an hour while also adjusting the hours to part-time for two positions, one in the auditor's office and one in the prosecutor's office.
The council also approved transferring $1,881.91 to the sheriff's repairs and maintenance fund from its reimbursement insurance to cover damage to a county vehicle from an accident earlier this year.
A transfer of $22,601 from housekeeping to part-time housekeeping was also approved.
Robinson also presented new personnel policy handbooks for the county.
They have been divided into four separate manuals to cover the sheriff's department, dispatch, the highway department and the rest of the offices at the county level.
Previously, one handbook was used for every county employee.
Tom Anglin was named president of the county council, while Larry Teghtmeyer was named vice president.
New council members Doug Heinisch and James Moyer were welcomed to the council. Other council members are John Kinsey, Brad Tandy and Bob Sanders.
The council's next meeting is March 10 at 7 p.m. in the old courtroom at the county courthouse.
