Sheriff’s Office Receives Generous Donation From HF Sinclair

November 29, 2023 |

Photo – UTV similar to the one the Sheriff’s Office will purchase – Courtesy CCSO

Thanks to a generous donation from HF Sinclair, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office will receive a side by side to aid in winter rescues.

During the November 21^st Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken asked the board to allow him to purchase a tracked UTV with a trailer. Sheriff Bakken said the side by side will be funded with impact assistance money and a donation from HF Sinclair.

Sheriff Bakken said his department needs the side by side to more effectively perform winter rescues. The sheriff asked the board to forgo the standard procurement policy that requires a formal bidding process for county purchases exceeding $5,000. Sheriff Bakken said Shivley Hardware, in Saratoga, offers the lowest price for the UTV.

Sheriff Bakken said money was set aside in his budget for the side by side, but inflation put the UTV out of financial reach. The sheriff said HF Sinclair Community Relations Administrator Annette Penman offered to donate money toward the purchase of the side by side.

Sheriff Bakken said his department only has one vehicle capable of performing winter rescues when roads are impassable: a tracked vehicle known as a Hagglund. The sheriff said the UTV will increase his ability to conduct search and rescue operations when snow makes using traditional vehicles impossible.

Commissioner John Espy moved to bypass the standard procurement policy and allow the sheriff to purchase the tracked side by side and trailer from Shivley Hardware without a bidding process. Commissioner John Johnson seconded and the motion passed.

HF Sinclair’s Annette Penman said she was happy that the money will stay in Carbon County.

In a written statement on his Facebook page, Sheriff Bakken said, “This UTV will be equipped with emergency lights, communication systems, and will have all-terrain tracks for four-season use. Simply put, without this contribution from HF Sinclair, a properly equipped UTV for our office would not have been a reality.”