Carroll County Council endorsed a plan by county highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad to purchase six new trucks by March 14, three of which will be financed for three years. The endorsement came at a special council meeting March 9.

Awwad posed the financing plan to county commissioners and gained their approval at the March 6 meeting.

"I feel it is my duty to present opportunities to save county money whenever possible," Awwad said.

The 2007 model trucks will have tighter emission standards and will cost between $8,000 and $12,000 more for each, Awwad estimated.

Council member Jerry Hendress said he checked with two trucking companies. Both agreed costs would definitely rise for 2007 models. We're forced into this because we can't afford not to," Hendress said.

Council member Steve Ashby reported similar findings. He said the 2007 trucks will be more complex and maintenance on them will cost more.

"Were it not for these changes," he said, "we wouldn't be bringing this up."

For the plan to be implemented, Awwad needed an endorsement from the council to continue funding the highway department's truck budget at the current rate for the next two years. The money for the second and third loan installments will come from that line item, according to Awwad's plan.

The first payment will be paid out of the commissioners' Economic Development Income Tax budget.

"I think it's a lot nicer to find this out up front," Ashby stated.

"I don't like the timing, but you have to deal with the cards as they're dealt," Hendress concluded.