Columbia County approves $36,200 amendment to sheriff vehicle order after wrong-model delivery

Columbia County commissioners approved an amendment to a prior vehicle purchase on May 13, authorizing a $36,200 increase to replace and reorder 10 sheriff's office vehicles after the first two delivered vehicles were the wrong model.

County staff member Mr. Blanchard told the committee that the two vehicles received in November had engines intended for investigative use rather than the turbocharged engines needed for road patrol. "They did agree that they could take back the 2 that we have already received. They can cancel the order for the other 8 and reorder the 10 that the sheriff actually needs," Mr. Blanchard said. He said the vendor agreed to the return and reordering but that the county must pay an additional $3,620 per vehicle, for a total increase of $36,200.

The county will fund the amendment from the risk management fund because the original two vehicles had been totaled in accidents, Mr. Blanchard said. Committee members confirmed the vehicles received had not been outfitted and were still at fleet. The motion to approve the amendment was moved, seconded and carried on consent.

Why it matters: The amendment responds to operational requirements of the sheriff's office for pursuit-capable vehicles and uses risk-management resources tied to totaled units rather than the general fleet budget. The county will return the unsuitable vehicles and replace the outstanding order with the correct police-package models.

Details and next steps: Mr. Blanchard said the vendor is Alan Jay (the vehicle vendor named in staff comments). The board approved the amendment during the Management & Internal Services committee meeting; no additional public vote or outside approvals were mentioned. The transcript shows no evidence the vehicles already had been outfitted, and staff indicated they remain in fleet custody pending the swap.