Douglas County Commissioners approved the purchase of 10 new vehicles for the sheriff’s office at its Wednesday meeting.
The sheriff’s office will use grants to purchase two new Ford Fusions for re-entry case managers who assist ex-inmates reintegrate into the community.
The Fusions were each purchased for $17,202 from Laird Noller Ford in Lawrence.
Commissioners also approved another $186,949 to buy eight vehicles in a separate vote. The money, which comes from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office budget, would buy two 2011 Chevrolet Tahoes, three 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, two 2011 Ford Fusions and one 2011 Ford F-150. All vehicles would replace ones currently in use.
Sheriff Ken McGovern said the office’s ability to respond to calls in recent snow storms has been severely hindered. He said the new vehicles, especially the Chevy Tahoes, would help them to effectively respond to citizen calls during severe weather.
The two Chevy Tahoes will be purchased from Don Hattan Chevrolet in Wichita for $56,888. The other vehicles will be purchased from Shawnee Mission Ford for $130,061.
Both motions were approved unanimously with no public comment.
Comments
behappy 7 years, 4 months ago
Oh good, just what we need is another 20 unused law enforcement vehicles to sit the the parking lot to make it even harder for employess and the public to find parking places.
anonyname 7 years, 4 months ago
As opposed to not purchasing new ones, and having the old ones sit in the parking lot when they can't handle the weather? Or as opposed to not purchasing new ones, and having the old ones sit in the parking lot awaiting the higher maintenance costs and more time out of service a heavily used police vehicle would need?
behappy 7 years, 4 months ago
as opposed to whatever....... try to find a parking place and you will realize just how many LEC vehicles have been purchased and are not in use.
Mean_Green 7 years, 4 months ago
There's always the option of riding the empTy.
optimist 7 years, 4 months ago
Why exactly are we spending $187,000 in Douglas county taxpayer money outside the county? I won't be voting for anyone who voted to send this money out of the community.
conservative 7 years, 4 months ago
I can about guarantee the local dealers were not competitive. In the 20 years i have lived in Lawrence i have purchased none of my vehicles locally. Each time i have checked locally but have saved in excess of $1000 every time by driving 30 miles down k10. I've never quite understood why anybody buys cars in Lawrence.
Missingit 7 years, 4 months ago
I am glad they bought outside the community if it saved money. I am betting the shopped around and got the best deals they could find.
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