October 23, 2023 |
Photo – 2023 Ford Explorer – Courtesy Wikipedia
County Commissioners agreed last week to allow the Sheriff’s Office to buy two patrol vehicles. During the October 17th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken asked for authorization to buy two used Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office.
Due to potentially sensitive information in the sheriff’s email to the board, Bigfoot 99 was unable to procure a copy of the correspondence.
At the board meeting, Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones asked Sheriff Bakken if the vehicles ready for police use. The sheriff said the two Ford Explorers will not need to be modified and are ready for use.
In August, the Saratoga town council authorized Police Chief Mike Morris to purchase a used Dodge Durango from a dealership in Illinois. Sheriff Bakken said the two Ford Explorers from the same place. The sheriff said preowned police vehicles are hard to find.
Commissioner John Espy moved to allow Sheriff Bakken to buy the two used patrol vehicles without the standard bidding process. Commissioner Espy said the nationwide shortage of emergency vehicles means the Board should forego the established procurement policy.
The two police outfitted Ford Explorers cost $99,720 together. Carbon County policy is to obtain outside bids for any purchase over $5,000. The official policy document states that the Board may elect to waive the bidding process, for any reason whatsoever, if it feels that there is good cause, and it is in the best interest of the County.
Commissioner John Johnson said he appreciated that Sheriff Bakken wisely used taxpayer money on the preowned vehicles.
Sheriff Bakken said the $99,720 for the two police vehicles will come out of the Gateway South impact assistance fund.
The commissioners voted to allow the sheriff to purchase the two Ford Explorers. No estimated delivery time was given, but the vehicles are available now.
