Weights and Measurements Inspector Tom Lonsway with the Seneca County Auditor's Office has coordinated this week with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to test truck scales for accuracy.
"If they don't meet accuracy, all we can do is let them know so they can make adjustments."
Lonsway and ODA official Mark Sickmiller paired up for the inspections.
"We did 10 inspections over two days," Lonsway said.
They inspected Sunrise Co-op and Crop Production Services in Attica, Miller Seed Farms in Republic and Sunrise Co-op in Green Springs Tuesday.
New Riegel Elevator, Clouse Service Center in New Riegel, Adrian Grain in Adrian, Crop Production Services in Carey and M & B Asphalt were inspected Monday.
"We are checking scales used for farm chemicals, elevators and small seed companies," Lonsway said. "I guess you can see we had some catching up to do."
The program was discontinued after 2009, Lonsway said. "This is the first year back."
He said the county partners with the state because the county doesn't have the equipment. The equipment being used by ODA Weights and Measures truck was manufactured by Tiffin Loader Crane Co.
"The truck tests the scales by loading a 16,500-pound weight onto the platform, then a 24,500-pound weight, then a 30,500-pound weight," Lonsway said. "All three weights are then added together to test its accuracy at 60,000 pounds."
The maximum weight for many of these scales is 120,000 pounds.
The ODA employs four inspectors to do inspections across four Ohio regions. Sickmiller works the northeast region1.
The ODA is based in Reynoldsburg.
Seneca County Auditor Julie Adkins said inspections ensure those using the service are paying for what they receive.
Adkins serves as the Sealer of Weights and Measurements for the county.
She oversees testing and measuring devices used in the purchase and sale of commodities, according to state law.
