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Spencer County to rebid sheriff vehicle purchase; court advertises for radio bids after reported communication failures
Summary
After debate and a tied vote on a state‑contract vehicle purchase, Spencer County Fiscal Court voted to re‑advertise bids for a 2020 patrol vehicle and to solicit bids for radios for the sheriff, EMS, jailer and coroner following reported radio problems on a serious incident.
Spencer County Fiscal Court voted May 6 to re‑advertise for bids for a new 2020 police interceptor after a motion to buy a 2020 Ford Utility marked vehicle from the state contract (with equipment package) failed to carry. Magistrates expressed differing views on whether the state contract price represented the best deal.
The sheriff described recent radio failures during a serious incident that forced deputies to rely on cellphones for critical communications. Chief Deputy Kemper and other deputies said battery life and interoperability problems hampered operations. In response the court unanimously approved advertising for bids for radios — new or used — for the sheriff’s office, EMS, the jailer and the coroner to improve cross‑agency communications.
The court also approved the purchase of tires for two sheriff Chargers ($959.52) and discussed equipment packages (L&W Emergency Equipment) for future vehicles. The sheriff said the department had generated significant auction proceeds that had aided county finances and asked that the mobile command center and other equipment display unified agency logos.
A motion to purchase a patrol vehicle off the state contract and outfit it with L&W equipment failed on a split vote. The court instead directed staff to rebid the vehicle and separately to collect radio bids for public‑safety agencies. The clerk and sheriff were directed to bring frequency and equipment details to the next meeting to inform procurement.
