Spencer County Fiscal Court votes to advertise for bids on two sheriff vehicles

Spencer County Fiscal Court members voted June 8 to advertise in the local paper for two weeks to solicit bids to purchase two sheriff vehicles, after discussion about a specific Ford the sheriff favored and how to pay for any purchase.

Minutes show County Judge Executive Scott Travis identified a Ford at Tim Short Auto Group in Morehead priced at $49,204 and suggested using federal drug-seizure funds to buy the truck. Esquire Stump noted the Ford is about $12,000 more than a comparable Dodge, and he urged waiting for 2024 prices. Esquire Pharris said purchasing a 2023 model could save money, while Esquire Cotton emphasized the county would use federal drug-seizure funds rather than general county funds.

The Court first recorded a motion to advertise in the paper to solicit bids for two trucks. An amendment by Esquire Stump to extend advertising 'for 30 days or the end of July' died for lack of a second. A separate amendment to advertise for two weeks in the Spencer Magnet, moved by Judge Travis and seconded by Esquire Eldridge, passed by voice vote with the members present voting 'aye' and the minutes noting Judge Travis as absent on the roll call. The motion as amended — to advertise for two weeks in the Spencer Magnet to obtain bids for two trucks — passed by voice vote with all members present recorded as voting 'aye' and Judge Travis absent from roll call.

The Court did not record a final purchase at the meeting; the action approved was to solicit bids. Using federal drug-seizure funds for vehicle purchases was discussed as the funding source; the minutes indicate the sheriff preferred the Ford at Tim Short Auto Group, but the Court opted to open a short bidding window. The next procedural step is publication of the solicitation in the Spencer Magnet and receipt of bids, after which any purchase would return to the Court for approval.