The Putnam County Highway Department will be leasing its three graders at a reduced rate over the next five years.

On Monday, the Putnam County Commissioners approved a five-year lease for three 2011 Caterpillar 160M all-wheel-drive motor graders. The county had been operating on a three-year lease in the past.

MacAllister Machinery Company, which leases the county its graders, put together a number of options for the county, including lease terms of three, four or five years. Ultimately, the commissioners settled on a five-year lease, with the equity from old graders, which the county is turning back in, going toward the payments for the new equipment.

Under the previous arrangement, the graders each cost the county $22,000 per year. Under the new arrangement, each grader will be leased for $13,965 per year, a savings of more than $8,000 per unit.

The deal also comes with a five-year/5,000 hour total machine warranty.

The sheriff's department will also be parting ways with some old vehicles no longer of value to the department, donating a pair of 2000 and 2001 Ford Crown Victorias to the Stilesville Police Department.

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