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Commissioners reverse vehicle reallocation after constable objects to losing equipped Tahoe
Summary
After a multi-hour debate over county fleet assignments, the Grimes County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to repeal a recent reallocation that would have moved a 2015 Tahoe from the constable's office to facilities and re-designated a truck as the pooled backup vehicle. Constable Bender warned reassignment would leave his office without reliable backup.
The Grimes County Commissioners Court voted to repeal prior motions reallocating two county vehicles after a prolonged discussion about department needs and vehicle condition.
Commissioner Chad Mallett moved to rescind the prior reallocations and County Judge Joe Fouth seconded; the record vote was 3–2 in favor (Mallett: Aye; Michael Raska: Aye; Judge Joe Fouth: Aye; David Tullis: Nay; Philip Cox: Nay). The change leaves the Tahoe intended as a pool vehicle for the three constable offices and directed staff to return with clearer documentation about which vehicles will be reassigned or auctioned.
The debate centered on whether the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe that Constable Bender said he had equipped for patrol should remain with the constable's office as a backup or be stripped of equipment and reassigned to the maintenance/facilities director. At the podium, Constable Bender said he had invested roughly $2,000 in new tires, a radar unit and an in-car video system and warned that losing the Tahoe would leave his office without a usable backup: "If you take that car from me ... he's gonna be sitting at home. He doesn't have a way to work," he said.
Facilities Director Rodney Floyd and other commissioners stressed the county must assign a reliable, lower-mileage vehicle the facilities director can use daily. Floyd described the truck under consideration as having prior transmission issues and long-term storage-related problems: "The truck does have issues ... there's been a tree fall on it," he said, noting tires and other items may need replacement after long sit time.
The court instructed staff to place a clarified vehicle-reallocation item on the next agenda with documented mileage, equipment inventories and department input so commissioners can make a more informed decision. For now, the previous transfer plans were rescinded and the parties will revisit the allocation with additional data.
