WEST LOGAN — The town council of West Logan discussed purchasing a new vehicle for the street department and extending the service life of the older garbage truck at their monthly meeting in December.

West Logan council members approved a motion to have Mayor Darren Akers attend an automobile auction to look at used pick up trucks with the possibility of purchasing a vehicle for the street department. Akers was authorized to spend between $8,000-$15,000 for a large pick up truck, preferably with four-wheel drive capability in good shape, if one can be found.

The matter came up a few months ago when the town was saddled with a $6,000 repair bill for the old garbage truck, and street department employees asked about purchasing a pickup to haul garbage off the hill on Third Avenue, noting that the steep climb was difficult on the full-size garbage truck.

Akers said the town had brought in more than $8,000 in revenue this year to date which could go toward the purchase of a used truck, which could also be used for other street department and city projects. With a new truck to handle chores it would increase the service life of the older garbage truck, the mayor said, noting that Glen Dingess and Les Finley said driving the heavy vehicle up steep hillsides was straining the older vehicle greatly. Akers said local car dealer and community volunteer Wally Thornhill said he would take him to an auction and assist him with finding a vehicle there.

Akers said he was disappointed when a pay dispute with a former street department employee arose over hours the young man claimed to have worked, but reportedly did not.

"It's a sad thing, because the kid was working very hard at first and he could have worked himself into a good permanent job here," Akers said.

Town Clerk Kristi Adkins thanked the street department for work they did decorating the town's Christmas Tree this year. The tree was donated by a local business and town employees put it up and handled the decorations.

Akers said the town needs some new barrels to hold salt this winter and said Glen Dingess of the Street Department will be in charge of getting the barrels and putting salt in them. If the town can get a newer pick up for the street department it might put a salt spreader on the back of it, Akers said.

A few days later, the town purchased a used truck for $15,000.

"It almost looks like it's brand new," Dingess said of the street department.

Chief Robert Ward said a bed liner and other items to customize it for street department use had also been ordered from a local business. The snow plow on the front of the new vehicle came in handy recently when the area was blanketed by a severe winter snowstorm and Dingess used the new machine to clear the streets — temporarily.