NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved placing a portable propane tank in the northeast corner of the Brown County Highway Department yard Tuesday.

Brown County Heartland/Hermann Express Manager Patrick LaCourse said he and Brown County Highway Engineer Al Lang agree there is room for the propane tank. It is part of a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Low or No Emission Vehicle Program grant awarded to Brown County.

He said a portable propane tank would not require a concrete pad, can be placed on gravel and would be easier to move.

LaCourse said the propane tank needs to be a certain number of feet from buildings and Lang felt the chosen location would work out best.

“The 1,000-gallon tank and the pump will be given to us at no cost,” he said. “As part of the grant, they will train our staff on how to fuel propane vehicles as well as anything we need to be watchful for. They will also train county highway department staff on how to maintain the propane buses as well as the tank and anything associated with them.”

La Course said he has been contacted by a number of area propane suppliers and feels there are enough of them in the area for propane to be purchased by bids.

Lang said he would contact City of New Ulm officials to determine city regulations such as setbacks.

Approval came on a motion by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp, seconded by Scott Windschitl.

Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of a new 2026 propane bus for Heartland Express for $169,740, motion by Commissioner Tony Berg, seconded by Dave Borchert.

A MnDOT grant will pay 80% of the $169,740 bus cost. Brown County Heartland Express will use reserve funds for the remaining cost, $33,948. LaCourse said the bus will be built on a Ford E450 chassis.

Heartland Express Manager Patrick LaCourse said all future buses will be purchased with the 12 passenger, two wheelchair design. Drivers will not be required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the buses.

“We have one (12 passenger, two wheelchair bus) now. It is working out just fine. It will also help when we sell the bus, as it can be purchased by a church or other organization that wants a non-CDL bus,” said LaCourse.

He said after considering three vendors, it was determined the bus will be purchased from United Bus Sales Inc. of Big Lake. Other vendors considered were ABC Bus Sales with a $170,581.75 bid and North Central Bus Sales, $171,919.

“This is a new company and so far, quite a few bus systems have been buying buses there and have been very pleased with them,” said LaCourse. “We felt the quality of their bus was quite good. According to the salesman, the buses go down the assembly line a lot slower, so they can pay more attention to the details of building the buses.”

LaCourse said the Brown County Heartland Express Reserve Fund, currently at $206,794.94, will be used to pay the 20% county share for the bus.

Commissioner Scott Windschitl asked how the buses would be maintained.

LaCourse said Chuck Spaeth Ford would service the buses while they are in warranty. After that, Mike’s Collision & Repair Center would do most of the work. Other bus maintenance has been done by North Central International of North Mankato and the Brown County Highway Dept.

He expects the new propane bus for Heartland Express to arrive in New Ulm in late summer or early fall.