The Scioto County (Ohio) Engineer's Office has received a grant for more than $454,000 to replace its aging equipment. The funds will be used to purchase a semi tractor, three dump trucks, and an excavator, the Portsmouth Daily Times reported.
"The last time we bought a dump truck was in 1991," Craig Opperman, county engineer, told Government Fleet. He added that the average age of the fleet of dump trucks is about 20 years.
Funding comes from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Administration. Vehicles are currently out to bid, and Opperman expects delivery by the end of the year.
The Engineering Office has a fleet of more than 100 units. Budget shortages are making it difficult for the office to replace its other vehicles as well.
"We just don't have the funding," Opperman said. "There is an extreme funding shortage for road and bridge infrastructure and maintenance."
