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Covington County approves surplus of two sheriff vehicles, green-lights local bids with state-bid backup
Summary
The commission declared two Sheriff's Office vehicles surplus and authorized soliciting local bids for a replacement, approving use of the state bid as a backup if local offers exceed a 5% variance. The decisions affect procurement method and financing for a school resource vehicle.
Chairman Michael Smith and the Covington County Commission on Jan. 27 declared two vehicles from the Sheriff's Office surplus and set a procurement path for at least one replacement.
Sheriff Turman asked the commission to declare two vehicles surplus, saying one has engine problems and the other would be traded in to offset the cost of a replacement. Commissioner Tommy McGaha moved to declare both vehicles surplus; Commissioner Robbie Weaver seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
The commission then considered how to buy a replacement. Sheriff Turman said a Ford Explorer and a less-expensive Ford Maverick were available on the state bid; he said one replacement will serve as a school resource officer vehicle. Commissioners debated buying locally versus using the state vehicle contract. Commissioner Lynne Holmes moved to solicit local bids with equipment options included; Commissioner Weaver seconded. The motion passed 4'1 with Commissioner Ben Courson voting no.
Commissioner Holmes then moved, and Commissioner Weaver seconded, approval to purchase from the state bid as an alternative if local bids fell outside a 5% window; that motion passed unanimously. County Administrator Karen L. Sowell and County Attorney Morgan Arrington clarified that the Sheriff typically pays from discretionary funds after the county purchases a vehicle and that one of the replacements had not been budgeted previously.
The vote resolves the immediate procurement path: solicit local bids first, and use the state bid as a fallback within the parameters approved by the commission. The commission recorded no further action on specific vehicle models or final purchase amounts during the meeting.
