At the Aug. 27 meeting of the Ohio County Fiscal Court, Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson came before the court to hire a temporary employee and get the court's approval on the purchase of a new police interceptor for the sheriff's department.
The first thing the sheriff requested was the court’s approval to hire Destiny Reneer, as a temporary employee, at 911 Dispatch at $10.75 per hour effective Aug. 18.
A motion was made by Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston and seconded by Fourth District Magistrate Larry Keown. After a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Next the sheriff asked the court to approve the purchase of a new police interceptor for the sheriff’s department.
Thompson informed the court the sheriff’s department took bids on a 2014 police interceptor and received only one bid. Moore Ford of Hartford submitted the single bid. Moore Ford’s bid was $25,879.25.
Johnston made a motion to approve the purchase of a 2014 police interceptor, for the sheriff's department, for the price of the bid from Moore-Ford of $25,879.25 and authorize county treasurer Anne Melton to write the check for purchase. The motion was seconded by Second District Magistrate Jason Bullock.
It was asked if the money used for the police interceptor’s purchase was money the sheriff’s office received from the Needs Assessment Committee on July 23. The sheriff’s department received $33,000 from the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year General Fund Surplus. The sheriff confirmed it was.
Third District Magistrate Brandon Thomas asked if Thompson advertised for any other make for the new police interceptor, other than Ford. Thompson said a Ford was the only car advertised.
Thompson pointed out the vehicle was actually an SUV and was what most sheriff’s and police departments were switching to, now that Ford has stopped producing Crown Victorias. Thompson also pointed out that in a rural county like Ohio County, an SUV is sometimes needed in out-of-the-way places.
After the discussion finished, a roll call vote was taken and the motion was approved by a 5-1 vote. Keown was the lone no vote.