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Caswell County OKs $38,000 in DEA funds for sheriff’s building to shelter armored vehicle
Summary
The board approved the sheriff’s request to expend up to $38,000 in DEA forfeiture funds for a turnkey building, roof, electrical work and site gravel to house an MRAP; motion passed with no county general-fund impact reported.
The Caswell County Board of Commissioners on May 4 authorized the sheriff to use up to $38,000 in Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) forfeiture funds to buy and site a turnkey structure to shelter a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP). The motion to approve the project and expend up to $38,000 in DEA funds was made by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Ingram, and carried by the board.
The sheriff told the board the total request covers the building, roofing, electrical work and gravel to finish the pad. He said the quoted costs break down to about $23,149 for the building (after deposit), roughly $1,920 for an insulated roof, about $10,000 for electricity and $3,000 for gravel and site work, for a total near $38,000. The sheriff said these are DEA funds and that he is not asking the county general fund to pay for the purchase.
Commissioners asked whether the proposed location and existing concrete pad would interfere with solid-waste traffic or other operations; the sheriff said he had discussed the plan with county staff and that the pad would be adequate. A commissioner also asked who would cover any additional footer or concrete costs; the sheriff said he would coordinate with county public-works staff and, if necessary, cover those costs from available funds.
The board allowed the expenditure after brief procedural questions about the packet estimate (the packet item listed the building price only) and confirmation that the sheriff was using forfeiture funds rather than county general revenue. The sheriff said approximately $63,000 remains in the DEA fund and he must manage that balance.
The board did not record individual roll-call votes by name in the minutes; the chair announced that the motion "carries." Commissioners did not request the sheriff to return for separate approval once invoices are finalized.
Next steps: the sheriff will proceed with the purchase and site work using DEA forfeiture funds and coordinate final site details with county staff.
