County transfers 2016 pickup to emergency management coordinator; vehicle comes equipped for EMC role

The court approved transfer of a 2016 Chevrolet pickup from the Sheriff’s Office to the County Judge’s office to serve the county emergency management coordinator (EMC), effective Oct. 1, 2025.

Sheriff Jones and county staff explained the vehicle is already equipped with county radio and EMC communications gear and is configured to support emergency operations. “That vehicle is set up for the emergency management coordinator operation,” a speaker said during the discussion, noting the truck includes radios and audio equipment intended for EMC use.

Commissioners discussed appropriate uses and budgetary responsibilities. County leaders said the vehicle will be managed by the judge’s office and that fuel, routine maintenance and any additional equipment costs would be reflected in the judge’s budget going forward. The judge noted existing line‑item funding for fuel and equipment; exact figures in the discussion were not definitive during the meeting.

The motion to transfer the vehicle passed (second by Commissioner Sullivan) with an outcome the court described as aye by all present.

Why it matters: The transfer centralizes EMC equipment in a vehicle configured for emergency operations and removes a logistics gap the office previously had. Commissioners emphasized the vehicle should be preserved for its EMC function and not used for ordinary county errands that would compromise emergency readiness.

Additional details: The vehicle is set to transfer Oct. 1, 2025. Commissioners and staff emphasized the vehicle will carry emergency radios and be provisioned for incident response; they asked the judge’s office to manage budgeted fuel and maintenance going forward.

Next steps: The vehicle transfer will be processed administratively and the judge’s office will incorporate the vehicle into its EMC budget and duties.