County agrees to haul landfill equipment

MARENGO — Iowa County Supervisors agreed last week to haul the Iowa County Landfill’s excavator to Cedar Rapids when it needs maintained.

Iowa County Engineer Nick Amelon said the landfill called him and asked if the county could haul the excavator rather than the landfill using an outside agency. That way the money stays in the county, Amelon said.

Amelon contacted County Attorney Tim McMeen about it, he said, because usually the secondary roads department can’t do work outside of secondary roads. In this case, the department can do the job, he said.

“We can if we get reimbursed for our time.”

Amelon talked to ICAP, the county’s insurance, about liability, and was told the county, as the contractor, would be responsible for damages if something happened to the equipment.

Amelon wanted to make sure the county was aware of that liability.

“It’s once a year,” said Amelon. “I don’t have a problem [with it].”

The agreement might benefit the county a little bit, said Amelon. His crew wouldn’t have a problem doing it depending on the time of year. Obviously, they couldn’t transport the excavator if they were busy clearing roads after a winter storm, he said.

Supervisors unanimously approved the plan.