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Commissioners approve $154,792 lease for three sheriff vehicles; sheriff reports compliance checks and nuisance property concerns
Summary
The board approved a 36-month municipal lease totaling $154,792 at 3.75% interest to acquire three sheriff’s vehicles and heard from Sheriff Billy Tomasi about registered-offender compliance checks and a nuisance-property problem; executive sessions on department personnel were also held.
County Counselor Jim Emerson presented a municipal lease-purchase agreement with Labette Bank for three Sheriff’s Department vehicles totaling $154,792 over 36 months at 3.75% interest. The board approved the lease by unanimous vote (Motion 26-210). Commissioner Carl Wood asked about gap insurance and equipment from a wrecked vehicle; the minutes record discussion with Sheriff’s Department staff and Human Resources/Finance Officer Adam Harrison about vehicle replacement logistics.
Sheriff’s report and enforcement limitations: Sheriff Billy Tomasi briefed commissioners on registered-offender compliance checks conducted this month and thanked officers who organized the effort; he said the department plans to run such checks at least twice a year. Tomasi also raised a nuisance-property issue involving occupants living in campers without utilities and said the department’s options are limited: "all he can do is bring it to the Commissioners," while County Counselor Jim Emerson explained that nuisance violations typically do not permit arrest and that locating a property owner can be a barrier to enforcement.
Personnel and executive sessions: The board recessed for a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel related to the Sheriff’s Department (Motion 26-211) with the county counselor, sheriff, undersheriff and the sheriff’s HR/finance officer present; no action was recorded upon reconvening. A separate 15-minute executive session was later held regarding communications staff (Motion 26-212).
What it means: The approved lease provides funding and a timeline for replacing or supplementing sheriff fleet vehicles; discussions flagged insurance and equipment-reuse considerations for staff to resolve administratively. The nuisance-property exchange shows legal limits on immediate arrest for code violations and the practical challenge of locating property owners for enforcement.
