Caledonia Argus

Squad car discussion continues

Posted: 4/13/04

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

The resignation of Houston County Deputy Linda Coffield January 1, 2004 may be just the ticket to pay for a squad car that was totaled March 6. Her position will be filled at the end of April.

Houston County Commissioner Ann Thompson pointed out at the April 6 meeting that the sheriffís office may have money in its budget for the squad car because Coffieldís position has been vacant for four months.

The position of Bob Reider, who resigned as chief deputy in 2003, was not filled until February 2004.

The money that was budgeted for that time period for those positions could be used to help pay for the squad car, Thompson said.

ìWe budgeted for both deputies, technically it can come out of the sheriffís budget. You have five months of unpaid salary that would compensate for the cost of the squad car,î said Thompson

The point was made when Personnel Director Tim Comstock requested to hire Jon Kulas as a deputy to replace Coffield. This is in addition to John Tveiten, who was recently hired to replace the vacancy created by Reiderís retirement.

Commissioner Dave Corcoran stated that the board had not said it wanted to hire a second deputy.

After looking through minutes from the past several months, Comstock stated that on November 25, after Reiderís vacancy, the idea was discussed about not hiring for at least six months so as to save the sheriffís department some money. But since the department was short staffed, the board approved advertising for a replacement which led to Tveitenís hiring in February. On January 6, the board tabled making a decision on hiring for Coffieldís vacancy until the first vacancy had been filled. They decided they would look at the same pool of applicants that Tveiten was hired from to see if anyone else could be hired from it.

Thompson noted, ìInstead of an actual motion that we hire a replacement, it was implied.î

The board eventually hired Kulas, who will start April 26. Commissioner Corcoran voted against the hiring and Commissioner Kevin Kelleher who was not in attendance, did not register a vote.

Because of the vacancies, the sheriffís office has been short-staffed for several months. Before her resignation, Coffield was on a three month leave of absence, and Reiderís position wasnít filled until six months after he retired.

Chief Deputy Ken Frank told The Argus that the staffing issues have kept the sheriffís office busy, but there has been very little overtime. He attributes that to the months of January through March being ìslowî months for the department.

He was also surprised at Thompsonís suggestion that the sheriffís office may have it in its budget to replace the squad car. ìIt caught me off guard. I hadnít been asked where the funds came from,î he said.

He noted the squad car that was totaled was scheduled for replacement in 2005, so this would be a one year advance replacement.

The board was provided with information on different lease rates and also with an inventory on each of the departmentís vehicles with their mileage.

Commissioner Graf suggested, îLetís hold off a week and give it some thought. Weíll call Dodge and Winona counties [about leasing vehicles].î

Frank noted that it appears the counties who are leasing squad cars may be paying more to lease a car than if they purchased it.

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