Bids accepted on 3 vehicles; one rejected

BENTON -- For Scott County, it was more cost-effective to keep an extra patrol car than selling it to the highest bidder.

During Thursday's regular county commission meeting, bids were opened for a Ford Box truck and three Ford Crown Victoria former patrol cars. However, the bid amounts were lower than commissioners had hoped.

"I just don't see any way we can sell those cars for that amount of money," Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said after the bids were opened. He pointed out the county has the right to accept or reject any bids.

Bid submitted were: Wade's Auto in Benton bid $400 for the truck and $309 per unit on each of the cars; and Brandon Caid bid $201 for the truck and $501 for a specific patrol car.

Sheriff Rick Walter said two of the cars were still in use -- the one which generated the highest bid was in the best condition and used strictly for the paper service, which generates some revenue for the county. It and another vehicle are also used at times to transport inmates.

For the price offered, he suggested keeping both of those cars. Walter also said the extra car could be kept for use of county employees, instead of reimbursing mileage rates. "And that way we'll have an alternate car if one breaks down," he said.

Burger pointed out, however, that keeping vehicles in the fleet means the county still has to keep the insurance up-to-date, and that adds another unit.

"Normally, every time we get a car, we sell a car to keep our numbers the same," he said.

After much discussion, the commissioners decided to keep one vehicle -- the one being used for the paper service which garnered a bid for $501 -- and sell the other two, plus the truck, to Wade's Auto.

In other news, the county will now cut some costs associated with its trash pickup.

"Dennis found a way to save the county $60 a month by combining trash pickups of the different county offices," Commissioner Ron McCormick said of fellow Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn.

Instead of three pickups each week -- one at each the courthouse, jail and highway department -- there are now two scheduled pickups for all trash combined.

"We're looking for little things like that to simplify and make cuts," said Ziegenhorn, commending Mike Glaus of Sonny's Solid Waste for being flexible with the change. "It seems like you're always looking for major cuts, but it's the small ones that amount to major ones."