Caledonia Argus

County considers leasing new squad car

Posted: 4/6/04

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Houston County Sheriff Mike Lee appeared before board members with facts and figures Tuesday, March 30, relating to how much it would cost to replace the squad car that was totaled during an accident on March 6.

Alternatives such as leasing a new vehicle are being researched.

Houston County Lieutenant Tracie Erickson crashed due to icy road conditions on March 6.

Lee reported that the 2000 Ford Crown Victoria had 90,000 miles on it and the insurance was willing to pay $5,356 for it. It was valued at $4,250. The state bid prices for a replacement Ford Crown Victoria are $20,338.

The sheriffís department already had budgeted to purchase one new vehicle this year, but this request is in addition to that.

Commissioner Ann Thompson asked what would be the departmentís alternative if the county did not want to buy a second vehicle.

Lee remarked that they could try to figure out how they could share vehicles or they could possibly lease a vehicle.

Houston County Chief Deputy Ken Frank gave commissioners one scenario in which the county could lease a Crown Victoria for $611 a month for five years if they keep it under 90,000 miles. The lease agreement would pay for gas, oil changes and maintenance costs. The county would be responsible for the costs of insurance and tires. Lee said the county usually puts about 100,000 miles on its vehicles every five years, but in this case he suggested that either himself or Frank could use it because they do not drive as much as the other deputies. Going this route would only cost the county $7,300 a year versus spending a lump sum of unbudgeted money.

If the county went over the mileage suggested, they would have to pay $.41 a mile.

Kelleher suggested talking to other counties to see if they have gone this route. Thompson also suggested talking to Houston County Personnel Director Tim Comstock, who conducted research on leasing vehicles a few years ago. The human services department has two vehicles it currently leases.

The county will delay a decision until the sheriffís department provides more research on the pros and cons of leasing.

Commissioner Corcoran questioned Lee on how many vehicles the sheriffís department ìwreckedî this year.

Lee responded that this is the first time in 24 years that the department has totaled a vehicle.

ìIíve got more calls on this squad car than I did on Networks (during the transition of Networks into ABC Works.) The reason I brought it up is just for clarification,î said Corcoran.

Lee noted that the department has had a lot of deer accidents. ìWhen you put 100,000 miles on a squad car in five years, you get into a lot of accidents. I wish we could get rid of them (deer). Weíre lucky we donít have more accidents,î he said.

Commissioner Kelleher noted, ìIf you have it with one person that continues (to get into accidents), I would assume you look at that.î

ìIím not going to comment on that. But I guarantee that if someone says,ë Iíve never hit a deer in my life,í that will be the week it will happen,î said Lee.

Sheriff rejoins task force

In other matters, the board approved allowing the sheriffís department to join the Minnesota Drug Task Force at a cost of $5,000 per year. During the budgeting process, the sheriffís office withdrew its membership to save money. It has since discovered that the services provided are worth more than the cost of membership.

Procedures for handling a methamphetamine drug lab have changed recently. Now, the Drug Task Force is called to decontaminate a methamphetamine lab, which is done for free if Houston County is a member. In the last lab bust, the county was responsible for the costs associated with gross decontamination because they were not a member of the drug task force at the time it occurred.

Lee added that they still have not received the bill for that.

Also, new rules have tightened the criteria for obtaining funds for clean-up. Lee noted that the task force will not pay for the clean-up of a lab if it is not initially entered by a someone who is trained to handle the potentially combustible situation.

The membership would allow the department to have two officers trained on how to make the first entry.

ìIt makes the whole operation a little trickier. You just canít bust through the door, but do it outside,î noted Kelleher.

Lee concurred, ìIt makes it tougher for us. With the big one at court right now, we worked it so we knew who was in and out and made it easier for us.î

Lee was referring to five who are charged with meth manufacture after being arrested near in Eitzen in September 2003.

Public Health Director Linda Grupa said there are two types of clean-up. Gross decontamination requires the drug task force to enter in and take out harmful chemicals for purposes of destruction and evidence.

The second clean-up refers to cleaning the residence so that it can become habitable again.

Meth ordinance approved

Relating to the second type of clean-up, the board approved an ordinance that would address who would be responsible for that type of clean-up.

Grupa, along with Commissioner Thompson and several law enforcement officials, previously met and discussed what they would like to include in an ordinance. Property owners are primarily responsible for the clean-up of the residence.

A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 4 to hear discussion on the ordinance before its final approval.

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