April 2, 2013
04/03/13 County Health Nurse Susan Lechlitner appeared before the County Commissioners Monday with quotes for a new vehicle for their department. The department needs a vehicle capable of hauling supplies and equipment to their outreach clinics. Cargo space is needed for vaccines and the insulated chest to carry them in, paperwork and three to four staff members. The vehicle must also be capable of towing a 14 foot trailer.
Five Marshall County auto dealers were sent requests for quotes and three returned quotes. Country Auto quoted a Dodge Ram quad cab truck for $25,000 while Best Chevy quoted a front wheel drive Chevy Traverse for $26,495 with the all-wheel-drive version a couple thousand dollars more. Oliver Ford quoted an all-wheel-drive Ford Explorer for $26,000 and the Ford Edge A-W-D for $26,608.
The County Health Department did a comparison on the vehicles looking at mileage, cargo space, towing ability and test drives. Their recommendation was to purchase a Ford Edge because of the 21 miles per gallon combined driving, better than all vehicles quoted. Lechlitner said, “We plan to keep this vehicle for 10 years and over the long term there would be significant fuel cost savings.”
The County Council approved $30,000 in their 2013 budget for a purchase.