Board approves medical examiner vehicle-use policy after debate over coverage and fleet size

The Adams County board unanimously approved a new office vehicle-use policy for the medical examiner's office that allows limited use of the single county van by out-of-county employees, amid board discussion about response times and future fleet needs.

Stephanie, the medical examiner, told the board two of the department's three deputies live outside the county and have limited availability for night calls because of travel distance. "Two of the three deputies in the office live out of county, and their availability is very limited," Stephanie said, arguing that the policy would reduce delayed responses to scenes.

Board members pressed for details. One supervisor said the policy would be easier to accept if the office had two vehicles; Stephanie confirmed the office currently has a single van. The medical examiner provided distances to the county line for the two out-of-county deputies: one deputy lives 24.2 miles from the county line and the other 13 miles from the county line, which the office said informed a proposed 25-mile allowance.

County staff told the board the office is budgeted for a new vehicle but that current prices mean the approved allocation will not purchase the needed vehicle this year. The county will propose funding for a secondary vehicle in the next budget cycle, the medical examiner said.

Supervisor Bob moved the policy forward; the motion was seconded by another board member and passed unanimously after no further discussion. The board did not add conditions to the policy at the time of approval.

Discussion at the meeting distinguished the adopted policy (a formal action) from future staff work: members repeatedly noted the need to return with funding for an additional vehicle and to monitor response times under the new policy.