County buys new $115,212 garbage truck

County officials moved quickly Monday to replace a garbage truck involved in a crash that claimed the life of a county worker last week.

Isiah Blakney, Jr. was killed when a limb from an uncovered city brush truck entered the window of the county truck and struck him, police said.

The county sanitation truck then veered off the road and hit a tree.

Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue told the finance committee the county needed to purchase a new truck or risk falling behind in its garbage collection. Belue said the county was offered the same model of truck damaged in the crash for $115,212.

County attorney Joe Mathis said the county had the authority to waive the bid process and buy the truck under the county's emergency procurement plan.

The county plans to pay for the truck from its operating budget and insurance settlement. Belue estimated the damaged truck is worth between $60,000 and $70,000.

Belue said the new truck should be in the county's hands within 45 days.