Sheriff William Blundell will have four new patrol cars since Labette County Commissioners approved the $111,422.47 purchase.
Columbus Ford received the low bid for four 2009 Crown Victoria cars at a cost of $23,385.64 each. The equipment, including light bars, pro-guard cage, console, patrol car video and vehicle striping, totals another $17,879.91.
The county pays one-third down ($37,140.82) out of jail housing funds, Blundell said. He was given approval to seek lease bids for the remaining two-thirds of the cost from local banking institutions. They would be financed for a two year term.
Current income for January was $27,915 and February $21,555 for jail housing, Blundell said.
Recently a van was sold on the Purple Wave Auction for $2,900. This money was put back into the general fund, Blundell said.
The patrol cars should take four to six weeks for delivery. The department is replacing two 2005’s, a 1999 and a 2003 patrol cars.
Commissioner Lonie Addis told Blundell to be aware that the general fund is hurting due to loss of interest and idle funds and they may need to work with him and the other departments accordingly.
IN OTHER ACTION at Monday’s meeting:
• The burn ban is still in effect; the situation has not changed. Written permission is needed for ag burning through the area fire chiefs.
• Approved a request from Dave Loiselle, appraiser, for field staff overtime while working on final reviews.
• Sandy Krider, road and bridge supervisor, received a signature on a request for a construction project using recovery funds 2009 (stimulus package). This is ranked with south on Pratt to the ammunition plant road first at a cost of $332,000 with a county match of $100,000. Rank #2 would be on 24,000 Road east of Meade Road to 37th St., City of Parsons, for $542,000 with the county match of $100,000. Letters of support were given from Great Plains Industrial Park and the City of Parsons. The commissioners also drafted letters of support for these two projects. The roads would be milled and have a two inch overlay.
Krider said there are 17 counties included in this stimulus package.
• Laura Moore, grant administrator, was given pay request #8 approval for $6,977 for cash on hand on the Osage Township project in Dennis.
Moore gave an update on the Fire Department/Community Hall project at Dennis. She said the storm shelter has been completed and the red iron work will begin this week.
• Jim Cook, emergency coordinator, reminded commissioners that the Mitigation Plan will be posted on the county website Wednesday.
• Approved the amended contract with the City of Edna to patrol within the city limits at a cost of $20,400 per year. This was established in 1998, Sheriff Blundell said. It requires approximately 650 hours a year, or 54 hours a month safety protection.
• Monday, commissioner Brian Kinzie and counselor Fred Johnson were meeting with Cherokee and Crawford counties to discuss the coroner’s fee. “We will be able to present our concerns and questions. The coroner is appointed by the largest populated county (Crawford) and the other two counties set up the expense and we pay,” Johnson said.  There has been a very dramatic increase in the coroner’s fee, Commissioner Addis added.
• A Class B liquor license was granted to Parsons Golf and Restaurant.
• The next commission meeting will be March 9 at 9 a.m.