Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Purchase Vehicles For Sheriff's Office

For less than $3,500 the Nevada County Sheriff's office will get three vehicles to use after the Nevada County Quorum Court agreed to purchase the vehicles during its regular meeting Monday, April 10.

JP George Clary told JPs he had looked into the amount of fines collected by the county through tickets issued by the sheriff's office for the first two months.

Clary said the sheriff's office had issue citations for over $80,000 and of that, $32,000 had been turned into county general.

He stated that since Sheriff Steve Otwell talked with JPs during the March meeting and they had been told that all the vehicles except the sheriff's car had over 150,000 miles he hoped the group could use some of that money to purchase a couple of vehicles.

In past years the county has purchased used vehicles from the Missouri State Police that were about one-year-old and had less than 50,000 miles. The vehicles cost about half of what a new police package vehicle costs.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown told Clary and the other JPs that he had received information that the county had the opportunity to purchase three vehicles from the Federal Vehicle Reclamation program.

Brown said Nevada County had been on the list for several years and had now reached the top of the federal list. Once they make a purchase, the county will be moved to the bottom of the list again.

He stated that the federal government had a 1992 Ford with 36,000 miles that the county could purchase for $2,250.

In addition, Brown said a 1986 transport van (similar to a small school bus with a van front end) was available for $750. A minor amount of motor work was required to get this vehicle workings, officials said last week.

A third vehicle, similar to the van, was purchased for $300 and will be used for parts.

JPs approved purchasing the vehicles by transferring $3,300 from the sheriff's equipment fund to capital outlay.

JPs also approved the joint audit review for 1998 during the meeting.

Brown read a letter from the auditors concerning the "conscientious efforts of officials in achieving substantial compliance with Arkansas fiscal and financial laws applicable to counties."

Brown also told JPs during the meeting that Clint Wingfield, project manager for the Nevada County Rural Water Project, had resigned due to health reasons.

He suggested that the county allow the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District be allowed to manage the project. Brown's recommendation was approved by the group.

JP Curtis Lee Johnson provided information to the court concerning constitutional amendments that are proposed for the November ballot. One issue, Amendment One, will allow county judges to enter into contracts for up to five years to purchase equipment.

Brown said JPs will receive other information on the amendments later and discuss them at length at that time.

JPs reviewed the hot check fund as issued by the prosecuting attorney's office.

According to the information, the county had $719 as its beginning balance for 1999. $14,617 was receive during the year for a total of $15,336.

After removing expenses of salaries, maintenance, contract labor, professional services and tax, $14,681 was spent during the year. This left a balance of $654.