Winneshiek County Plans to Sell Spare Plow Truck to Decatur County After Fire

Without local news, all we have are rumors. Keep facts alive — give now. DECORAH — Winneshiek County officials are preparing to sell an unused plow truck to Decatur County after a fire destroyed much of that county's snow removal fleet. County Engineer Michael Kueny told the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors that Decatur County lost "five of its eight tandem plow trucks" when a secondary roads shed caught fire earlier this month. Decatur County officials asked neighboring counties if they had spare plow trucks available to rent or borrow in the short term. Kueny said Winneshiek County had already been considering selling truck No. 544, which has not been used since the county purchased newer Ford trucks last year. Based on past sales of similar equipment, Kueny proposed selling the truck for $11,000. He said the county's most recent truck sales ranged from $10,000 to $16,000, with $10,000 previously being the highest guaranteed trade-in offer the county had received. Supervisors generally supported the idea of helping Decatur County while also receiving a fair price for equipment that is no longer needed. However, Supervisor Mark Vick said Decatur County officials should travel to Winneshiek County to inspect the vehicle before completing the purchase rather than having it delivered. Vick explained that allowing the buyer to examine and test-drive the truck would ensure they understand its condition and avoid any disagreements after the sale. The truck is configured primarily for winter operations and includes a permanent sander attachment that distributes sand and salt. Because the attachment cannot easily be removed, the vehicle is less useful for summer hauling tasks such as moving dirt or rock, Kueny said. Kueny said he would contact Decatur County officials and invite them to come to Winneshiek County to inspect the truck and, if satisfied, drive it back themselves. County officials noted that selling the truck would reduce Winneshiek County's reserve fleet from two backup plow trucks to one, but maintenance staff indicated the newer truck fleet requires fewer spare vehicles. Your weekly dose of local life! Subscribe to the free newsletter and enjoy news, analysis, and stories you'll actually look forward to reading.