A decision on four new police cars for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department will wait for another week or so.
Sheriff Matt Hassel presented quotes to the Marshall County Commissioners in January, but Commissioner Mike Delp asked to see if the county’s lease option would benefit the Sheriff’s Department. Three of those vehicles would be patrol vehicles while a pickup will be purchased for the merit officer. The pickup being replaced would be used by the process server.
Hassel told the commissioners on Monday that the three-year lease program would mean less money spent on vehicles, but they won’t be owned by the county like their current fleet. If the commissioners don’t approve the lease program in three years, Hassel was worried he would need to purchase more vehicles as the four vehicles he’s seeking now may need to be purchased when the lease is up.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer said there is money budgeted for four new vehicles this year and thought that they could buy the new vehicles this year and then go into the lease program next year. Sheriff Hassel said they would have to get quotes for 2020 models as production has halted on 2019 production. Hassel also noted that the jump in prices is not included in the budgeted amount and will ask for the additional funds from the Marshall County Council during Monday morning’s meeting.
In the end, Sheriff Hassel said he would get a quote for the truck and see what happens during Monday’s meeting with the council. The commissioners will make a decision on leasing the Sheriff’s Department vehicles or purchasing vehicles at their Feb. 18 meeting.
