Sheriff says Lamar County received $250,000 toward new fleet; jail upgrades, HVAC needs discussed

Sheriff Marty Gwa reported to the Lamar County Commission that the county was awarded $250,000 toward vehicle purchases and said the funds should arrive within roughly 30 days. "We were awarded the $250,000 towards our vehicle purchase," he said during the staff reports.

Gwa said the county cannot obligate funds until the award is received and outlined a plan to borrow from the general fund temporarily to outfit vehicles, estimating about $10,000 per vehicle for radios and equipment and planning to sell excess vehicles to repay that borrowing.

He identified the Ford Explorer police-package as the preferred vehicle and said the department will reuse existing radios. Commissioners discussed equipment choices including bumpers, decals and light packages and weighed protection vs. cost trade-offs.

Gwa also said Will Bryce, a representative for a state senator (as transcribed), will visit the jail for a tour. While federal congressional funding typically will not pay to build a new jail, Gwa said upgrades such as HVAC and lighting likely fall within allowable uses. He described recent complaints about heat in the jail, recent heater-coil work, and an ongoing five-year maintenance plan.

What happens next: County staff will monitor arrival of the vehicle award and return to the commission with procurement and outfitting plans; a congressional aide's jail tour is scheduled as part of outreach for possible upgrade funding.

All direct quotes are attributed to Sheriff Marty Gwa as spoken in the Jan. 27 meeting transcript.