Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Expenditures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves new fire engine, ambulance stretchers and police vehicles; sheriff's deputy abstains on two votes
Summary
Dinwiddie supervisors approved multiple public-safety purchases including a $1.2 million fire engine, replacement ambulance stretchers ($210,938.93) and seven police interceptor vehicles after staff said delays and fleet age necessitated replacements; one supervisor abstained on law-enforcement items due to employment with the sheriff's office.
The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19 approved several public-safety purchases, including a replacement fire engine for Station No. 2 and equipment to modernize ambulance and law-enforcement fleets.
Fire Chief Kelsner presented the fire-engine contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for $1,203,650 and explained the procurement context, including a long manufacturer lead time. He said paying sooner secures a $206,118 discount and that delivery would take “about 1,470 days,” forcing the county to move items earlier in the capital improvement plan. The board approved the engine contract by roll call.
Kelsner also described a stretcher and power-load purchase from Stryker for $210,938.93 to replace 12-year-old stretchers and 17-year-old stair chairs; the purchase includes a year of maintenance. He said the upgrades reduce manpower strain on crews and improve safety. The board voted to approve the stretcher contract.
On law-enforcement purchases, representatives for the sheriff’s office asked the board to authorize three additional license-plate‑reading cameras and seven police interceptor utility vehicles (the vehicles were quoted at $307,256.20 for seven units). A board member declared a conflict and abstained from votes involving the sheriff’s office because he is employed there; the flock‑camera and police-vehicle measures passed with 4 ayes and 1 abstention. Assistant Major Massey Gill summarized that prior state HEAT funds reimbursed earlier camera purchases and that the county would use operating budget money to buy new cameras and receive state reimbursement.
Board members characterized the purchases as necessary to maintain public-safety readiness and fleet reliability in the face of long manufacturing lead times. “If you don’t grab them when they’re available, they’re gone,” one supervisor said during discussion.
What happens next: departments will complete contracting and schedule deliveries. Some items — notably the fire engine — have multi‑year delivery horizons and will be tracked through the county’s capital projects schedule.
