SIDNEY -- The Sidney City Council faced a question of buy new or repair a high-mileage bus.

The 2021 bus in question is part of the Sidney Public Transportation fleet. Public Transportation Director Kasey Kantor said the bus needs significant repairs and has 96,071 miles on it. He said the lift needs fixed, multiple sensors need replaced and it has a blown engine. Cost of the repairs are estimated at $12,000. 

According to Kantor, the Transportation Department has had the bus for four years.

"Over the four years, it's cost over $3,000 more in repairs to fix than our 2019; just pointing out that it has kind of been our problem child. That 2019 has over 100,000 miles on it," he said.

He said of the $12,000, the City would be responsible for 25 percent, about $3,000. The question Kantor posed to the Council is if they want to continue repairing the bus, or purchase a new one. 

"With those repairs, like I said, its $12,000 to possibly fix, and only 25% of that would be our cost so we're only still looking at about $3,000. But, everything that's happened to it, the way its been acting, that's why I'm coming to you guys to see what you want to do," he said.

He said he has two busses on order; one was planned to expand the fleet. He said it takes 180 days for delivery of a new bus. With the two-year budget with the State, he has budgeted funds to purchase an additional bus. 

Kantor said his goal is to have seven vehicles in operation; 4-5 of the busses for transporting students.