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Commissioners delay decision on transit vehicle title swap after staff outlines workaround to replace totaled bus
Summary
County staff explained a title transfer and inventory shuffle that would allow replacement of a totaled transit vehicle; commissioners asked staff to confirm legal review and return next week.
Harnett County staff described a plan Monday to resolve a 2021 transit vehicle casualty and make the vehicle eligible for replacement under state grant rules, but the Board of Commissioners postponed formal action so legal and inventory questions can be reviewed.
Baird Blevins, a county transit presenter, described the problem: a county transit vehicle was totaled in 2021 and the county received $25,350 (rounded in later remarks to $26,000) in casualty proceeds. The vehicle had been state-owned under the original capital purchase and the state required replacement to maintain inventory counts. "If we send the money back, that means your inventory will be reduced by 1," Blevins said, describing the state's position. He said state staff agreed to allow the county to move a county-owned vehicle with higher mileage into the state's inventory so the county could keep the casualty proceeds and become eligible to request a new replacement on the 2027 application.
Blevins said the county could not find a suitable used replacement after manufacturers paused production; the affected vehicle required a lift, making replacements scarce. He said the county has three county-owned vehicles it has been maintaining and would not perform a full rehabilitation on the high-mileage vehicle moved into state inventory.
Commissioners questioned whether legal counsel had reviewed the title change and inventory swap. "Has legal council been involved in this?" one commissioner asked. Blevins replied he did not believe legal had been involved because the action is a title change, and later recommended the item be discussed again next week after coordinating with county legal staff and IMD (the referenced state inventory management division).
Why it matters: The approach would let the county replace a transit vehicle through the state grant program without losing vehicle count, but it requires legal clarity and state approval and could affect fleet maintenance responsibilities.
Action taken: The board directed staff to postpone the item and return next week after confirming legal review and coordinating with Marion and IMD. No formal vote on replacement or title change occurred at the work session.
