Dickinson County Weighs New Sign Truck as 20-Year-Old Vehicle Nears Replacement
Dickinson County commissioners reviewed a proposal to replace the county's aging sign truck during an October 22 study session. Fleet Services Manager Billy Hemmy said the current vehicle is a 2007 or early 2008 model that is about 20 years old, has a little over 100,000 miles, and is showing increased wear, including electrical issues in the cab.
Hemmy said the replacement would use a lifting boom rather than the auger on the current truck, which officials said the county does not use much. The new configuration would allow crews to install guardrail sections and mount signs without bringing a ladder to each job, and would include a wireless remote crane.
Officials discussed purchasing through the Sourcewell cooperative contract, which would use a company called Model One for the truck and bed, rather than a competitor referred to as Buckner. A commissioner questioned whether a new truck was necessary, noting the vehicles accumulate relatively few miles because they never leave the county. Staff agreed to obtain competing prices, including a quote for the bed from an Illinois company and others, and to explore used-truck options.
The county is also facing a significant increase in signage work. Staff said the county maintains roughly 5,000 signs, has not finished updating all 911 address signs, and must install more than 200 additional weight-limit signs by 2029 to comply with bridge inspection requirements. Hemmy said the county has been divided into four sections to manage the sign replacement work. Staff said they expect to have narrowed-down options and price numbers for the commission to review the following week.
