The Eldred Township supervisors continued to weigh their options Wednesday night about an aged dump truck. They are considering replacing it with a new one, buying a used truck, fixing what they have, or exploring a service contract with another municipality.

The township has a new dump truck on order, and is considering buying a second one. The suggestion to purchase the second truck was brought up at the meeting in August by Frank Fehlinger, the township’s road master.

In August, he told the supervisors that one of their dump trucks has a crack in the outside frame, and he thinks the truck needs to be replaced.

Currently, the township owns a 1995 dump truck, and the 1996 dump truck with the crack.

At the meeting on Wednesday night, Fehlinger told the supervisors that he has been running the cracked truck at half its capacity.

The new International dump truck that Fehlinger suggested to the supervisors would cost $154,207 and includes a plow and spreader. It would be paid for through a five-year lease agreement with the option to keep the truck at the end. The payments would be $32,994.23 a year. But it hasn’t been budgeted for yet.

“We have a new truck coming,” said Gary Hoffman, chairman of the supervisors. “We got an opinion from the treasurer recommending not getting a second new truck.”

Fehlinger said he has been looking at dump trucks on Municibids, but one that he was considering went for more than the township wanted to pay. He said that the truck with the cracked frame might be able to be repaired, and he would be willing to look into it.

A resident spoke up and said he has an inspection license for vehicles and there is no use for a truck with a crack.

Hoffman asked Fehlinger if the dump body is in good enough condition to put on a new chassis. Fehlinger said he would look into it.

Hoffman also suggested that the township explore a service contract with another municipality for assistance in snow plowing.

“I think we really need to do some serious planning,” Hoffman said. “I think we should have a backup plan, because if it starts snowing early and we still don’t have a solution to this, it’s obvious that it’s very difficult to fix that truck with a rusted through frame and now a cracked outer frame.”

He continued and suggested that the township “get a contract for somebody to plow and salt. Their truck, their driver, their fuel, their insurance, their benefits, all those things, and that section of the township is just subcontracted out. We figure out the rest. We need to do something soon, because we have to put in our bids (for salt and cinders for the winter).”

The supervisors discussed how much a service contract would cost and whether or not it is worth it if the service costs $150,000. In that case, they might be better off to just buy a truck.

Hoffman suggested that they have a service contract ready to go in case they need it, even if it is just for a couple storms.

No final decisions were made.

In other business, the supervisors said trick-or-treating will take place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.