The Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of two used truck tractors, a lowboy trailer and two dump trailers at a total cost of $168,755. Some $120,000 of this purchase will be paid out of available county funds and the balance will be financed.Delivery of this equipment in January 2010 is expected.This actions took place at the November 3 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.The two trucks will replace three trucks dated 1981, 1982 and 1995. These three older trucks each have roughly 2 to 3 million miles of use. These trucks were bought as used equipment. They had extensive highway mileage accumulated at the time the county bought them.The trailers will replace 1960 vintage equipment.In other actions, the commissioners approved an agreement between the county and Kimball Health Services whereby KHS will be reimbursed $100 every time KHS supplies a staffer to accompany the county ambulance. The $100 charge covers a 75 mile radius around Kimball. The charge increases to $250 if the radius is more than 75 miles and no more than 200 miles. Any trips of greater length will be negotiated.Jim O’Brien , County Ambulance Contractor said the annual out-of-pocket cost of this service should run in the range of $10,000 and no tax money would likely be needed. The term of the agreement ends June 30, 2010.The agreement was approved, with slight changes.KHS Chief Executive Officer Julie Schnell said that KHS has been supplying a staffer for such trips at no cost but this is no longer possible under present day economic conditions.Commissioner Brower asked Schnell if the hospital board had considered taking over the ambulance service.Schnell said words to the effect that such a thing wouldn’t be done blindly, that it had been considered, there are lots of rules that govern and affect the situation and KHS would not want any dilution of the KHS financial position.The commissioners received the June 30, 2009 audit report prepared by County Auditor Donald D. Wilson, CPA. The commissioners approved by a 2-1 vote a letter of understanding for three years auditing service by Wilson at an annual cost of $7,700. Commissioners Bashaw and Brower voted aye, Soper voted nay.Soper said, “ I firmly believe the county should change auditors every few years.”The Nebraska Department of Roads is holding a District V meeting at the Holiday Inn in Sidney on Thursday Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The public will undoubtedly be able to express concerns at this meeting. City Administrator Harold Farrar was present to urge public participation at this DOR meetingThe DOR has already closed rest stops near Chappell on I-80 and there is concern the same thing could happen to the two Kimball area rest stops.County Treasurer Diana Quicke presented 66 Distress Warrants totaling $28,976.67 for delinquent personal property taxes. These will be turned over to the County Sheriff for collection.In the Board of Equalization portion of the morning meeting, County Assessor Alice Ryschon reported that county assessors are being instructed by the state to use land sale data from adjoining counties to provide a broader information base for ag land valuations. Some counties are experiencing fewer ag land sales and the use of the extra data is intended to give more accurate valuation.Soper said this would create false values and is fundamentally wrong. He said Kimball County already has four different market areas built into its valuation process.Ryschon said she also disagreed with the instruction and would make her opinion known through appropriate channels.The assessor’s office web site for valuation information should be up and running by Thanksgiving, according to Ryschon.