At its April 14 meeting, the Ohio County Fiscal Court entered into a lease with Mack Trucks, approved the hiring of two employees for the county road department and bought a new backhoe.— For the past several years the fiscal court has entered into a leasing program with Mack Trucks. The county receives a brand new Mack Truck for 12 months and after a year of use, the truck is sold. After the truck is sold, the price the county will pay for the year lease is determined by the amount for which the truck is sold. Mack guarantees 85 percent of resale value.In the past, the resale amount of the truck was so high, the county was actually paid money on the truck.With little discussion on the matter, Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston asked for a motion to approve a resolution to enter into a leasing agreement with Mack Trucks.Fourth District Magistrate Larry Keown made a motion to approve Resolution 2015-16. Third District Magistrate Joe Barnes seconded the motion. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.To view a PDF of the Mack Truck Lease, click here and here.— The Ohio County Road Department is seeking qualified seasonal employees for the summer, as well as a couple of full-time employees. Johnston asked County Road Foreman Jeff Miller to come forward with two new hires for the road department.Miller asked the fiscal court to hire Tristen Haynes as a seasonal employee at $10.25 per hour, effective April 19. Johnston made the motion to hire Haynes. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.Next Miller asked the court to hire Charles Wells as a full-time heavy machinery operator at $10.25 per hour to start and $14 per hour after a six months probation period, effective April 19. Johnston made the motion to hire Wells. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.It was also said the county has re-advertised for seasonal employees.— After the hirings were made for the road department, Miller stated the department’s case for a new backhoe. Miller said the road department had a backhoe to go down three or four years ago. The county never replaced it.Several months ago, the county took bids on several pieces of machinery for the road department. The county did pass motions to buy some equipment, but not all of it.After reviewing the bids, Miller asked the court to buy a John Deere 310-SL for $87,500 from Erb Equipment Company.Johnston explained the county had the money to purchase the equipment due to receiving a $250,000 loan from the Green River Area Development District (GRADD). GRADD announced the loan approval on April 21. The county already used $123,987 of the loan on the purchase of a wheel loader in February. The county is still looking to purchase a new single-axle dump truck for the road department.Keown made a motion to buy the John Deere 310-SL and authorized County Treasurer Anne Melton to write the check. First District Magistrate Sam Small seconded the motion. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.