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Parmer County approves gas UTV purchase for sheriff; Lazbuddie Wind Farm pledges $10,000 donation and county to apply for 2025 SB22 grant
Summary
The County approved buying a gasoline Kubota UTV for the Sheriff's Department after a $10,000 donation pledge from Lazbuddie Wind Farm; the Court also voted to reapply for federal surplus eligibility and to submit an application for the 2025 SB22 law-enforcement grant.
Sheriff Eric Geske told the Parmer County Commissioners Court that the county jail held 19 inmates, seven of whom were from Lamb County, and presented two Kubota UTV bids from Lone Star Ag. The bids included a gasoline model for $18,584.02 (two seats) and a diesel model for $25,496.86 (four seats). Sheriff Geske said Lazbuddie Wind Farm offered a $10,000 donation toward the purchase and that remaining funds would come from available ARPA funds.
Commissioner Kirk Frye moved to purchase the gasoline-engine UTV for $18,584.02 and Judge Isabel Izzy Carrasco seconded the motion; it passed by majority vote. Sheriff Geske also told the Court the County's federal surplus purchasing application had expired in 2014 and the Court voted to re-apply so the county can purchase surplus federal equipment in the future.
On intergovernmental cooperation, Sheriff Geske reported the City of Farwell is negotiating a memorandum of understanding for deputy coverage at $55 per hour with alternating weekend coverage; the Court voted to table action while negotiations continue. On office safety, Geske said there is "no protection for the JP if she is there alone. No camera, no alert button, no automatic door locking mechanism," and said he would continue looking for security options for both JP offices.
Judge Carrasco moved and the Court voted 3-to-1 to apply for the 2025 SB22 grant, a two-year program that nevertheless requires an annual application. The vote authorizes county staff to pursue the grant application for law enforcement resources; further details on the application and matching requirements were not specified in open session.
The Court took these items in open session; the UTV purchase and grant-application approvals were recorded in the minutes as majority votes.
