Union County Board of Supervisors will further research Sheriff Mark Shepherd’s request to use American Rescue funds to purchase a new vehicle for his department. No action was taken.
On Monday, Shepherd told the board $60,000 should be enough to purchase an adequate, fully-equipped vehicle. The federal government issued Union County about $2.3 million to make up for lost revenue because of COVID. Union County has already spent much of it from courthouse remodeling to improvements at the fairgrounds.
Shepherd said he will also research grants to help with vehicle purchases.
Shepherd explained the use of a vehicle.
“We transport people to hopsital, jail, prisons, mental health facilities on a weekly basis,” he said. “Some of hose people we know have COVIVD or other communicable diseases. Others we don’t know.”
Shepherd said it’s common for people going through the Union County jail process, they are asked various health-related questions. Those people have the option not to answer.
“We are aware of many health issues of our inmates” he said.
Union County Sheriff vehicles have an interior barrier to prevent the suspect from interfering with the driver.
“It protects the deputy transporting the inmate, helps prevent escape, also has glass barrier for sneeze, spits. It is a barrier to help us. If we get that stuff in our jail it really causes problems.”
The sheriff said it is common for Union County inmates to be housed in other counties because of space limitations.
“If Union County has an outbreak, none of these other counties will take our inmates and we will have a problem,” he said. He said a COVID outbreak in Adams County was linked to an inmate who originated from Union County.
Shepherd said it’s common for his vehicles to being driven an average 25,000 miles a year. There are nine vehicles but one is intended for transportation but is not equipped like a traditional patrol vehicle. The proposed transport vehicle would be equipped for transport. The transport vehicle and a spare are driven less than the average annual miles.
Union County has a Dodge Charger Shepherd would like to trade with a new purchase. He said Chargers are not ideal for gravel or county roads. The department uses Dodge Durangos as patrol vehicles. Shepherd said he is not confident the Durango will be available by 2024 but will consider another vehicle that can still use the existing barrier equipment. Shepherd prefers getting another Durango.
Shepherd said he plans to include funding for another vehicle in his fiscal year 2024 budget, which begins July 1, 2023.
In other county news...
With a chance of snow and colder temperatures later in the week, Secondary Roads Superintendent Al Hysell said his department has begun making brine that is applied to ice and snow covered roads. Union County has storage for 5,000 gallons of brine. Three snowplows can apply brine; one truck has 900 gallon capacity and another has 1,000 gallons capacity.
“Kind of a guessing game on each storm,” he said how much could be used.
Hysell said crews have experimented with applying the brine intentionally on North Cherry Street Road. Portions of the road are exposed to wind and the road’s popularity increases the risk of the material to be pushed off. He said mixing brine with sand and salt has made it last longer on the roadway.
Union County Secondary Road crews continue to find trash left along county road ditches which violate county policy. Hysell said he had been informed by several people of where trash had been found, including furniture.
“We’ve been lucky to get a few leads,” he said about suspects. “What we are picking up today it looks like somebody has been cleaning their house out.”
Union County has rules penalizing people who have been confirmed of leaving trash in the ditches.
Supervisor-elect Dennis Hopkins was in attendance.