V. Hugh Lewis II
Jefferson Jimplecute
Marion County Constables will be cruising in style after Commissioners approved the purchase of two new pickup trucks during Monday’s regular meeting.
Commissioners approved spending $86,318.70 for the vehicles from Elliott Auto Group in Mt. Pleasant. Both vehicles are 2022 models. One is a Dodge Ram 1500 for $36,355.63, and the other is a Ford F150 for $49,963.07. Constable Ed Baird was the only constable with a county supplied vehicle prior to Monday. His vehicle has being repaired on a regular basis. That, combined with Constable Jeff Greer not having a vehicle, spurred Commissioners to make the purchase. They have been searching for vehicles since November 2021.
Commissioners chose to use ARPA Revenue Loss Funds to purchase the vehicles.
County Clerk Vickie Smith asked Commissioners to approve funding additional book scanning and preservation. Smith said they recently discovered plats surrounding Ferrels Bridge Dam and lake of the Pines which had not been scanned and backed up, so getting these books done was a priority. The 16 plats will be preserved at a cost of $3,146.08, and have been paid for through the document preservation fee received when filing documents.
Commissioners also approved a contract with Firetrol Protection Systems to inspect and test the fire prevention systems at the Courthouse. Cost of the 3-year, annual agreement is $505 per year with an additional $165 for portable extinguisher inspections.
In other business, Commissioners:
• declared May 2022 as Mental Health Awareness Month
• approved BJ Westbrook transferring to the Treasurer’s office full-time beginning in October so she can train for her new position. An additional $9,550 will be transferred to the treasurer’s budget to cover the costs.
• approved Pct. 3 purchasing a Motorgrader. Cat35H from Trinity County. Pct.3 Commissioner Ralph Meisenheimer said the costs would be covered by the sale of the old motograder and additional items he has sold.
Commissioners will meet again in Special Session at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to canvass the May 7 election results.