Jones County commissioners waive bidding, authorize sheriff to buy patrol cars; approve road and water work, elect vice chair

Jones County commissioners on Jan. 7 approved a slate of operational measures including authorization for the sheriff’s office to buy five used 2023 Dodge Charger patrol cars (with the option to pre-purchase up to 10 more), approved road work under the FY25 program to the extent available funds allow, amended a water construction contract for Mackenzie Drive pending customer deposits, and elected Sam Kitchens as vice chair.

The most consequential vote allowed the sheriff’s office to bypass the normal competitive-bid process for the 2023 Dodge Chargers and to purchase five vehicles at $35,000 each, with an option to buy the same cars at the same price later. Sheriff’s office staff told commissioners the Chargers were being offered at roughly $11,000 less than comparable 2024/2025 pursuit vehicles. “They’re $35,000,” the sheriff’s representative said, adding that the price represents a substantial saving compared with new 2024 pursuit packages.

Why it matters: commissioners said the decision preserves near-term cost savings and vehicle availability for law enforcement as new-purchase prices remain elevated. The board approved both (1) waiving the…