Barton County commissioners agreed to disagree Monday morning, and it was a good thing. 

On the table was the proposed purchase of four new trucks for the Road and Bridge Department. The total cost was just shy of $784,000.

Now, the department uses these vehicles as workhorses. They haul sand, spread sand and salt on icy roads and plow snow.

Road and Bridge Director and his staff does a good job of keeping their fleet operating through sound maintenance. They need to for they expect these trucks to last 20-25 years.

They’ve made due in the past with keeping vehicles longer than planned or by filling in with used equipment when possible. But, Phillips said Monday they need to quit chasing good money with bad.

Nonetheless,that is a lot of money. It would require tapping funds from the current budget as well as most of the department’s savings.

This is where Commissioner Alicia Straub objected. Now is not the time to spend that kind of money, given the current clouded budgetary landscape, she said.

Could Road and Bridge get by with just two new trucks now? she asked. 

Ultimately, Straub was the lone vote against the purchase, but she stuck to her beliefs.

What happened next? Straub was the one who moved to approve the next item on the agenda.

You see, despite the differences on the truck matter, commissioners remained cordial and cooperative. Sure, there were differences. But that is the beauty and purpose of a governing body – question and not just nod without thinking, 

 Dale Hogg