County purchases car from Hillsboro dealership
Staff reporter
In an effort to support county businesses, Marion County Commission approved a bid from Irv Schroeder County Motors of Hillsboro for a new sheriff's department patrol car.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker said the county could save $2,000 per car by ordering from GMAC but wanted to support the car dealerships in Hillsboro and have local service.
The Hillsboro GMC dealership presented a bid of $19,090 for a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. Hillsboro Ford-Mercury had a bid of $23,036 for a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria and Wright's Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep had a bid of $23,099 for a 2007 Dodge Charger.
Before the decision was made to go with the Impala, commission chairman Randy Dallke asked Becker which car had the best fuel economy. Becker said the Chevrolet with 20-21 mpg but the others were close at 18-20. He said it depended on the car's operator and how the car was used.
Last year the county purchased one car from each dealership for the sheriff's department — a Chevrolet Impala, Ford Crown Victoria, and Dodge Charger. Becker said the three vehicles were operating sufficiently.
Becker said the next new vehicle-purchase for his department yet this year will be a sports utility vehicle for the K-9 (drug dog) unit. He said SUVs and trucks are needed in his department to be used in inclement weather.
Dallke said he checked with Harvey County and was told that they obtain bids from outside the county and go with the lowest bid regardless of the location of the dealership.
The commission approved the purchase of the Impala with commissioner Bob Hein abstaining from the discussion and voting because he works for Irv Schroeder County Motors.
In other business:
— Becker reported that he and the state fire marshal continues discussions about 24-hour jailers. Becker said there needed to be someone there to be able to open the jail in case of peril such as fire or disaster. Currently dispatchers are in the building but would be unable to do their dispatching duties and release prisoners.
The fire marshal told Becker that heavier, fire-resistant doors were needed but the most critical expense would be 24-hour jailers.
— The commission was told that Hodgeman County had passed a similar resolution to charge prisoners. Graham County was considering adopting a similar resolution.
— County zoning administrator and sanitarian Bobbi Strait presented a list of building permits issued thus far this year.
The 14 permits included three new homes, five accessory buildings, a church addition, and a cell tower.
