Glades County discusses using forfeiture funds for vehicles and buys used motor grader

At the May 13 meeting the Glades County Board of County Commissioners discussed county law-enforcement fleet shortages and the county's plan to use forfeiture funds to help replace vehicles, and considered purchasing a used motor grader for public-works crews.

Staff reported that longstanding use of forfeiture funds to purchase law-enforcement vehicles has left those funds nearly depleted; county officials said they are seeking a path forward to replace patrol and fleet vehicles that have become unreliable. Staff said the county hopes to acquire six vehicles during the current budget year and is exploring lease and purchase options as part of a longer-term fleet replacement plan.

Separately, county staff and commissioners discussed road-maintenance equipment. Public-works staff described two motor graders in the fleet, one of which has had repeated transmission work and is no longer economically repairable. Staff said a used grader being evaluated has fewer hours and came with a warranty; at a purchase price of $66,500 it was presented as a lower-cost alternative to a new grader costing $250,000–$300,000.

Commissioners and staff framed the grader purchase as a pragmatic option to keep crews operational while the county develops a systematic plan for fleet replacement during the annual budget process. The transcript does not show a detailed procurement resolution or a formal roll-call vote for the motor grader in the provided excerpt.