Commissioners approve new vehicle purchases

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Putnam County Commissioners approved the purchase of four new vehicles for the sheriff's department at their meeting Monday night.

The department will purchase three new Crown Victorias at $35,000 each and a Ford F250 pick-up truck, priced at $42,000. The vehicles will be paid for out of the sheriff's department asset forfeiture fund.

In other business, Tricia Wray of the Auto Zone regional office in Indianapolis gave a presentation on her company's U.S. Communities program. Wray described U.S. Communities as a nationwide strategic sourcing program designed by public purchasing professionals for use by local and state government agencies, school districts, higher education and nonprofit organizations.

The program entitles participants to deep discounts on Auto Zone and Home Depot products, Wray said.

No contract has to be signed for the program. All that is required, Wray said, is "an easy sign-up through the Internet."

"The savings we offer are on parts, oils and fluids," she said. "These are things we don't even give our up and down the street customers."

The program is a way for Auto Zone to help municipalities make it through tough economic times.

"All these pennies start adding up," Wray said. "That's why Auto Zone is here … to help you. If I can add more dollars to your budget and save another job, that's what I want to do."

Wray said some cities have signed up for the program under one large umbrella, but the commissioners declined to make signing up a requirement, preferring instead to leave the decision up to individual departments.

"We will make a motion to sign a resolution to suggest it to the departments," Commission President Gene Beck said.

Also at the meeting, Putnam County Development Center executive director Bill Dory told the commissioners he had found one person who was interested in filling one of two vacancies for Putnam County representatives on the Region 7 Regional Workforce Board.

"Mike East, who is CEO of Endeavor Communications, is interested in serving, but he must be appointed by the commissioners," Dory said.

Commissioner Jim Baird said he would prefer the commissioners take the matter under advisement, but that he didn't want to make a decision on the appointment until East could meet with the commissioners.

"I like talking to the individual before I make any decisions," he said.

Dory said he would contact East and see if he would be available to attend the commissioner's Dec. 1 meeting.

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  • Daaaang! Lets go DELUX!!No way to get a truck for under 42 grand? Truck prices have dropped incredibly,that must be some kinda "super truck" maybe its like Kit,from knightrider,talks and everything...And Crown Vics? Sheesh,we be stylin now...makes sense to get a gas hoggin pimpmobile.Doesnt matter where this money come from,its simply illogicall,senseless extravagance,and a waste of available funds. When later we hear that this training or this equipment would be very nice and needed,BUT theres just not enough money....hmmm

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 6:09 AM
  • Did they ask for bids on the vehicles? $42k for a pickup??!!

    -- Posted by localman on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 8:55 AM
  • I agree, this is a waste, 42000 for a truck, 35000 for a Crown Vic. This isn't funny it is down right stupid.

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 1:59 PM
  • So, who do all those Sheriff cars that are parked out front and around the side belong to and what are they being used for since they need more of them? It seems to me like they do an awful lot of sitting, but maybe it's just a coincidence that the time of day I drive by they are sitting there? And what on earth do they need a truck for when they have all those SUV's? WHO was that bought for?!?

    -- Posted by putcoresident on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 5:06 PM
  • hmm, nice reference.

    Sincerely,

    Nick Nack Goldberg

    -- Posted by Nick | Nack on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 5:10 PM
  • People Please ! Ford Crown Victoria's are pretty much "standard issue" law enforcement vehicles nothing special or "Unique" Like the last Sheriff seemed to always be getting. I would say that Crown Vic's show a step in the right direction for the Department.. As for the truck I don't know.

    -- Posted by JefKhan 1 on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 5:17 PM
  • What i wonder would be the comments if the headline reads...Police were dispatched to emergency but the cruser broke down because it was old, and it was your place? If it had got there on time all would been saved but when thay got there thay were too late. Remember,if you do not know,police are usualy first on the scene and most are first responders. police even in towns pile up the miles. Thay are usualy kept for 3 yrs. The truck used where a car will not go. I want my call to have a officer there safe and a.s.a.p. and that safety comes at a cost. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE WORTH?????

    -- Posted by Bintherdonethat on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 7:12 PM
  • East doesn't even live in Putnam County. He lives in Avon. Why would you let him serve on this board?

    -- Posted by blackbear on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 9:10 PM
  • It appears there are still some FOM's that are upset about the great job Fenwick is doing. 3 crown vics to add to the departments fleet. Wow... I guess since most of the vehicles the deputies drive have over 100,000 miles on them they shouldn't be replaced. You people have no clue how long its been since the deputies were actually issued new equipment. Instead, the SHOW BOAT SHERIFF bought for himself. Lets see.... 1st was a new black Ford Expedition which was handed down when he bought a USED (black) Mercury Marauder. That Marauder wasnt good enough for him, it was handed down and he bought himself a nice shiny new black Dodge Charger. That vehicle wasn't flashy and cool enough for him so he had a different Dodge Charger, another black one but this time an SRT 8 picked up for him in Florida and brought back for him to drive for 3 months before he was told the county wasnt paying the 32,000 purchase price for the car alone. That car was returned to the dealership with a rumored several thousand dollars worth of damage to it.

    And for you readers that can actually read Thank You!!! For those that cannot... Go back up, LOOK where it says the vehicles were being purchased with asset forfeiture funds. I think that means money that has been seized from drug dealers and NOT tax dollars.

    I think it is time to quit bashing the Sheriff's Department. All of the theives are gone now.

    -- Posted by paddy whack on Tue, Nov 18, 2008, at 10:21 PM
  • They need the vehicles, I believe if you would have came to the commissioners meeting you could have heard and/or read the justification. Keep up the good work.

    -- Posted by Nick | Nack on Wed, Nov 19, 2008, at 4:28 AM
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