Wayne County approves vehicle purchases and contract adjustments for juvenile services; officials cite bed shortages and transitions statewide

Wayne County commissioners approved multiple items related to juvenile detention and youth services, and department leaders described ongoing placement shortages and efforts to expand mental‑health placement capacity across the state.

Vehicle purchase: Mac McGee, division director for the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, and Rachand Smith, deputy director, requested approval to purchase two transport vans and one SUV through a cooperative agreement with Gorno Ford for the juvenile detention facility. McGee said existing vehicles are aged (one about 15 years and near 70,000 miles, another about 12 years and near 60,000 miles) and that the purchase is intended to meet transport and emergency needs for another 10–12 years. The total cost presented was $152,139. Commissioners asked why the vans were described as “black transport vans”; staff said…