County purchases new vehicles for sheriff’s department
Catoosa County commissioners have approved the purchase of 10 new patrol cars for the sheriff’s department fleet, plus a transport van.
The approval came during the Board of Commissioners April 4 meeting.
“This resolution includes the purchase of 10 Dodge Chargers from Don Jackson Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Union City, Ga. at $21,590 each totaling $215,900,” Sheriff Gary Sisk said. “The associated equipment needed for each vehicle is priced at $84,099.27 for a grand total SPLOST expenditure of $299,999.27.”
Cherise Miller of the Catoosa County Republican Party maintained that such a purchase was a bad idea.
“I’m up here fussing again about spending money on all these new cars,” Miller said. “I just can’t see it.”
Miller submitted a list of questions pertaining to the vehicles, such as scheduled maintenance, life and mileage expectancy, and the fate of retired vehicles.
“These are just some questions we’d (Catoosa County GOP) like answered,” Miller said.
During his presentation, Sisk took time to respond to all the questions listed on Miller’s handout.
Sisk said each vehicle’s mileage expectancy is about 150,000 and that vehicles are replaced when the cost of maintenance exceeds the value of the vehicle. Sisk added that when vehicles are “retired,” they are turned back over to the county so they can then be sold or auctioned off.
“Also, these are 2015 model cars. ... They’re still brand new, but the dealership still had them on the lot, so we’re getting them for about $1,500 to $2,000 less than we would for 2017 models,” Sisk said.
As far as the transport van goes, Sisk says his office is doing some rearranging to help alleviate costs.
“It’s a little bit different, it is for the purchase of a vehicle, but it’s for the purchase of a 2016 Ford transitconnect van for the price of $15,645, with associated equipment needed for this vehicle at a cost of $4,411 for a grand total expenditure of $20,056,” Sisk said.
The majority of the funding for the van purchase is slated to come from money and evidence seized by the sheriff’s office.
“This expenditure of $14,685.36 will come from unclaimed property and evidence, as well as the transfer of two vans, one 4X4 truck, and a utility trailer in the amount of $5,370.64 to equal the total needed for the purchase of the new transit van,” Sisk said.
Sisk said he and County Manager Jim Walker have already discussed how the three vehicles being sent to the county could be used for work detail throughout the county and in other departments.
“The Dodge 4x4 truck we’ve actually loaned to Public Works the last two or three bad weather incidents,” Sisk said. “They put brine tanks in the truck and used it. I think the Parks and Recreation Department is wanting the utility trailer as well.”
Sisk added that the new van will put to good use as his officers travel all over the state daily transporting inmates.
Alcohol Awareness Month
Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month.
Sisk, County Attorney Skip Patty, and Candy Hullender of the Catoosa County Prevention Initiative (CaPI) were on hand to speak to the board about the importance of alcohol awareness in our community, and the affect it can have on young people.
“Underage consumption is a big problem,” Patty said. “Young people ages 12 to 20 drink 11 percent of the alcohol consumed each year in the U.S.”
The main focus of the CaPI is to educate teens and young people on how to avoid issues with prescription drug and alcohol abuse.