County spreads the wealth with car purchases
Sharing county business among three Marion County car dealers was the issue Monday during the Marion County Commission meeting.
Previously the commission had discussed purchasing a car from each Hillsboro dealership for Marion County Sheriff's Department.
A total of three cars were budgeted for the department. A 2006 Chevrolet Impala already had been ordered with encumbered funds from 2005 and bids were solicited from the other two dealerships.
At a previous meeting earlier in the year, commissioner Bob Hein expressed concern of not getting bids from all three dealers and going with the lowest bidder. So, all three dealerships again were solicited for bids.
The three bids were: $24,186 for a 2006 Dodge Charger with a police package, $21,185 for a 2006 Crown Victoria police interceptor, and $19,491 for a 2006 Chevrolet Impala with a police package.
Sheriff Lee Becker said it had been 20 years since the county purchased a Chrysler product and he wanted the county to consider the Charger.
Hein said he was told by constituents that the commission should take the low bid because it's taxpayers' money.
Doug Wright said he was shocked that he was the only bidder who attended the meeting. He said he had reviewed repair bills of the sheriff's cars and found there were two major repairs on Impalas — $2,516 and $2,571, respectively — and Crown Victorias — $900, $2,929, $5,000, and $811.
Wright said the commission wouldn't consider building a new jail just like the old one, so why should the county purchase cars that are known to have problems? He added that the amount spent on repairs could offset the different of purchase prices.
Becker also noted having all three kinds of cars would help him compare performance for future car purchases.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said he was going to "stick with the original bid idea of one Ford and one Chrysler" and made the motion to purchase the Charger and Crown Victoria as bidded. Commission Chairman Dan Holub reluctantly seconded the motion because it was not the low bid. The motion passed 2-1, with Hein abstaining.
Road and bridge department
The commission approved a bid of $83,650 for two steel bridges.
Krause Welding of Hillsboro was the only bidder for the project of two bridges — 240th on Alfalfa Road and north of 250th on Indigo Road.
In other business:
— Steve Hudson, county road supervisor, asked for direction regarding a request by lake residents for new signs on private roads. It was believed the Chat & Dine Club previously had purchased and erected the signs.
Holub said discussing signs was premature and they needed to wait until an organization could be formed by lake residents and Dale Snelling, lake superintendent, could be contacted.
County crews will clear brush from the lake and will meet with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to discuss brush in the lake water.
Fresh concrete will be poured for the boat ramp.
— Logan Township patrolman Darren Rhodes has resigned and the position will be advertised.
— Department of transportation physicals for county CDL drivers could cost the county $80 per driver. Jim Herzet, county road and bridge superintendent, suggested the county's health insurance cover the expense and the county reimburse employees for the $20 co-pay.
County clerk Carol Maggard said she wasn't sure if Blue Cross Blue Shield would pay for that and would check.
