Blackford County to Acquire $381,000 Paver, Split Payment Across Two Budget Years

From the Blackford County Council meeting on June 3, 2026

Blackford County's Highway Department plans to acquire a 2023-model paver for $381,000 through equipment dealer Brandeis, the Highway Superintendent told the County Council on Tuesday.

The department budgeted $180,000 for a paver in 2026 and has been searching since December, but no quality used options were available. The payment structure allows the county to rent the equipment at $20,000 per month — all applied toward the purchase price — using this year's budget allocation. The remaining approximately $200,000 would be paid when the 2027 budget year begins in January.

The paver is expected to last 10 to 15 years at 2,000 to 2,400 hours of annual use. It would allow the county to perform its own hot mix paving instead of contracting the work out. The county's old paver will be sold on GovDeals, a government surplus auction site.

Auditor Lisa Simmons noted a budget tension: the $180,000 set aside for the paver could alternatively be directed toward the county's underground storage tank replacement project. No additional appropriation was requested for 2026.

Source: Meeting transcript — Blackford County - County Council Meeting - June 03, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.