LAGRANGE – LaGrange County Commissioners approved the purchase of multi-speed loader for the highway department this morning.

The price after trade-in is $217,819 dollars and will be paid from funds in the department’s budget.

The commissioners also gave permission to I-T Director Bob Murphy to work with the county attorney on justifying a sole source purchase of record management software for the dispatch center and jail.

The purchase according to Murphy would be made from a new vendor who is already working with several surrounding counties, making the sharing of data one of its features. County Attorney Kurt Bachman said the purchase price will be considerable, but that sole-sourcing the purchase is possible under exceptions to the state’s public purchasing laws.

Some of the cost could be covered by a grant that Sheriff Jeff Campos is applying for. The commissioners approved the grant application also this morning.