The Shelby County Supervisors have approved the purchase of a new motor grader for the Shelby County Engineer’s Office. In a meeting held this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart presented two bids, one from Zeigler and the other from John Deere.

Zeigler was the low bid for a new 2013 Caterpillar at $201,810 which included a trade in from the county of a 2005 Caterpillar motor grader. Ahart also put together a resolution to place stop signs on Hickory Road and Ironwood Road south of Westphalia. The reasoning behind the resolution was a safety concern, as Supervisor Roger Schmitz said he drives by the two “T” intersections on 1400^th Street almost daily and is very dangerous.

In fact, the county had a couple of accidents on the intersections in 2013. The resolution was approved. The stop signs will now be at all three sections of the “Ts” and signs will be posted of an upcoming stop ahead. The stop signs will be installed later this week. In other business, Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter said the courthouse had received some customer complaints in regards to the courthouse steps being closed during inclement weather. The board has a policy where as the steps to the courthouse are blocked off during ice and snow as a safety precaution.

No change in the policy was made. The Shelby County Supervisors heard also from Chris Nelson of Gronewold and Company, on the Fiscal Year 2013 Audit, which was subsequently approved.

(Joel McCall/ KNOD)