NILES TOWNSHIP — Members of the Niles Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday night to approve the purchase a $37,000 new truck and $5,095 snow plow, which will be utilized by the Department of Public Works.

Trustees had initially discussed the vehicle’s purchase during the last township meeting on Feb. 20, but they decided to get more information about the cost of buying a new versus used car.

Trustee Terry Eull said the Department of Public Works is currently using a 15-year-old Ford F-150 that had about 62,000 miles on it. In addition to plowing snow, Eull said the truck is used to haul equipment and assist the township park’s department with tasks.

Eull described several issues with the old truck that were making it a less effective tool for the township.

Eull said earlier in February the township had to replace gas tank straps for the car. Issues were also cropping up with the power steering pump and oil loss, to name just a few. Eull said one of the biggest upcoming issues with the car is that two of the three cross supports on the truck’s bed had rusted off.

“So, there is only one of these things holding the bed on the truck,” Eull said. “They are not even hauling the trailer with it anymore, because they are afraid it is going to pull right off.”

After doing the research, Trustee Terry Eull advised that the board purchase a new truck. He emphasized the importance of having a dependable car. 

“It is heavy work for what it does and you need to keep putting money into something that old,” Eull said. “When we need that truck, we need it. We can’t be waiting around while it is in the shop.”

The township received two bids from Niles dealers on the truck, one from Niles’ Tyler Automotive for the amount of the other from Campbell Ford.  The quote from Campbell Ford was for a pre-owned Regular Cab F-250 with less than 50,000 miles and was approximated at a cost of $30,500.

Trustee Dan Pulaski asked trustees if they had deferred the decision the Department of Public Works employee who will be utilizing the truck.

Eull said they had asked the employees and they were impartial to the decision.

The accompanying plow blade will be purchased from Dale’s Auto Sales & Service in South Bend. The company offered the township a $455 municipal discount for the equipment.

The old truck will be advertised for sale, Eull said.

“[The old truck] served its purpose and now it is time for another truck,” Eull said.

Also approved Monday:

• Niles Township trustees voted unanimously to approve to hire a new billing clerk. The clerk will receive an annual salary of $30,000.

• Niles Township trustees voted unanimously to approve the promotion of Deb Walters to office supervisor. Her salary will be $35,200.

• Winners of the Niles Township photo contest were announced.

• Township members announced that they are looking for new members of the planning commission.

• Trustee Chris Vella shared with board members that a representative from Lime Bikes will be presenting during the township’s next meeting at 7 p.m. March 19, at the Township Hall, 320 Bell Road. Vella said Lime Bike has expressed interest in having bikes available for the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail.