by Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Scott County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of three new vehicles for the Scott County Sheriff’s Department using the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) at their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 2.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 granted $1.9 trillion for the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin asked for approval for a total of $163,774 from ARPA funding to purchase two 2023 Dodge Ram pickup trucks and a 2023 Dodge Durango. The pickup trucks are to cost $55.651 each and are to be used on for patrol duty for the sheriff’s department while the Durango costs $52,472 and is planned to be used for transportation, said Goodin.
Commissioner Randy Julian asked about an alternative for using the unrestricted opioid settlement to be able to contribute to the vehicles.
County Attorney Zach Stewart said that the county would have to do reporting on how the funding is being used regardless of whether the funding is restricted or unrestricted.
Commissioner Greg Prince asked Goodin if the sheriff’s department was planning on getting rid of vehicles with the purchase of the new automobiles. Goodin responded that the department would be getting rid of three vehicles and has been trying to rotate the vehicles once they are no longer able to be used.
The commissioners unanimously approved using ARPA funds for the purchase of the new vehicles. However the final decision on spending the money will have to be made by the Scott County Council.