The Jones County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday, February 18 to replace the aging Jones County Sheriff’s Department fleet of patrol vehicles.
“They all have 200,000 miles plus on them,” stated Sheriff Joe Berlin.
Chief Financial Officer Charles Miller said Sheriff Hodge, the previous sheriff, had established a fleet replacement schedule for every four years. The fleet was scheduled to be replaced last year but was not done.
The board agreed to the lease-purchase of 19 Dodge Durangos at $27,038.00 each, which includes a skid plate package, and one Dodge Durango with a Hemi package and skid plate package at $29,704.00. Seventeen of the 20 vehicles will be outfitted by Hurricane Electronics in Gulfport, Miiss., who offered the best pricing to equip the vehicles with a cage, lightbars, sirens, window guards, and push bumpers at $4,978.56 per vehicle. An extra $300 per vehicle will be added for decals. The total purchase cost for the new fleet is $632,861.52.
Prior to the start of the business portion of the meeting, Bishop W. E. Bridges gave the devotion and invocation.
The board approved the appointment of Jamie Altman from Beat One to the Parks and Recreation Board and Amber Page, also from Beat One, to the Jones College Board.
The board also approved a request from the Jones County Economic Development Authority and Sanderson Farms for the temporary closure of Technology Blvd. in the Howard Technology Park during the construction of Sanderson Farms’ new state-of-the-art hatchery.
“Due to the recent weather, they (Sanderson Farms) are thirty to forty-five days behind schedule,” stated Ross Tucker, president and CEO of the Jones County EDA.
The board requested that the sheriff provide a feasibility study of the inmate garden before approving the use of equipment and personnel.
The board approved to spend $2,500 in sponsorship with the Friends of the NRA Chapter for their upcoming fundraising banquet on March 6. The Friends of the NRA provides support to youth sports and safety programs throughout Mississippi. They also provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to help obtain firearms according to Lance Chancellor, JCSD grants/statistical administrator.
The Jones County Board of Supervisor’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at the Ellisville Courthouse.