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Lavaca County approves sheriff's impound fees, therapy canine pilot and applies for vehicle-crime grant
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Summary
The commissioners approved an updated impound fee schedule, authorized a therapy dog pilot for the sheriff's mental-health unit, agreed to apply for a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant (20% local match), and approved a temporary part-time administrative hire to digitize records.
Lavaca County commissioners on April 14 approved several measures brought forward by the sheriff's office, including an updated vehicle-impound fee schedule, a pilot therapy-canine program for the mental-health unit and a resolution to apply for state grant funding aimed at vehicle crime prevention.
A sheriff's department captain told the court the impound lot has been expanded and secured with fencing, cameras and controlled access and will be used for seized or towed vehicles that are unsafe for the road. The proposed fee schedule includes a daily storage fee (tiered by vehicle length), notification/publication fees, a one-time impound fee, an administrative fee and recovery of towing charges. The court approved the fee schedule by voice vote.
On a separate agenda item the court voted to establish a CERT Canine Program and certify "Ollie," a veteran Goldendoodle, for use by the mental-health deputy program. The captain described a required 40-hour therapy-canine certification plus on-the-job training; Deputy Kyle explained that during long transports the canine can sit in the rear compartment and provide calming presence to patients. The captain said the only anticipated up-front costs would be an in-vehicle kennel and a heat-alarm system to protect an animal left temporarily in a vehicle; those costs were estimated at a few thousand dollars and would be evaluated as the program is implemented.
The court also approved a resolution to apply for two open grants through the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA): a catalytic-converter-theft prevention grant and a task-force grant. The captain said MVCPA funding can pay for equipment, technology and positions but requires an 80/20 funding split (MVCPA covers 80 percent; the county provides a 20 percent match). The county will pursue the application and may prioritize license-plate readers and related technology.
Finally, the sheriff's office requested and received approval to hire a temporary, part-time administrative assistant to digitize paper records and support an expanding dispatch area; the court limited pay to not exceed $20 per hour for the remainder of the fiscal year. The judge and commissioners said digitization will help preserve records and support operations.
The court approved each item by voice vote. Officials said they will return with final cost estimates for the canine vehicle kennel and alarm before purchases are made.
