DeKalb County advisory board approves up to $35,000 for replacement vehicle

The DeKalb County Community Corrections advisory board on an administrative motion authorized up to $35,000 from CTP funds to buy and outfit a replacement for a county vehicle that staff described as worn and a growing safety risk.

Staff told the board the unit in question has been in service about 13 years and that recent repairs were described by mechanics as "only a band aid," leaving the program to seek replacement rather than continued patching. The staff presentation said the best quote to date came from a local Chevrolet dealer transcribed as "Shepherd's for Chevy," and that the appropriation would cover purchase, registration and equipment installation (laptop mounts, light bars and other fixtures).

The chair moved to appropriate up to $35,000 from unbudgeted CTP funds; members present indicated their support and the measure advanced. The staff speaker said a precise final amount will be determined after additional quotes and that the chair would sign final paperwork once the invoices arrive.

Why it matters: the vehicle is used in field work for supervised programs; staff argued replacement reduces safety and reliability risk and avoids recurring emergency repairs. Funding will come from the CTP account, which staff said typically receives about $20,000 per year and had not had a dedicated budget for several years.

Details and next steps: staff will gather final quotes and return paperwork so the chair can execute the appropriation. The board discussed options to limit the request to what is needed and to use local dealerships where appropriate.