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Council approves two additional sheriff vehicles citing rising transport miles and cost savings on used upfits
Summary
Sheriff Hartless told council the department has driven about 15,500 transport miles this year and proposed purchasing two used, three-year-old patrol/transport vehicles with preinstalled equipment at roughly $73,000 each (including upfits) to meet increasing demand; council approved the request.
Staunton City Sheriff Hartless requested funding for two additional patrol/transport vehicles at the July 23 meeting, citing sharply increased mileage and transport demands. He provided updated pricing and utilization figures: "A base model Police Explorer is up to $51,000 right now... total upfit, police equipment... is running somewhere between 20 and 22,000... So that puts us at $73,000 for one vehicle," he said, and noted the vehicles under consideration are three-year-old used units with equipment already installed, saving roughly 54% compared with buying new and upfitting.
Hartless said transports are driving departmental mileage growth: "We are at right at 15,500 miles that we've traveled just this year, just since January," and that court scheduling and farther-distance detainee transports have increased travel. Vice Mayor Arrowood and other councilors signaled support for the request after Hartless emphasized cost savings and operational need; the council approved the purchase by roll call vote.
Council recorded the motion and vote; staff will work through procurement and vehicle assignment as directed.
