LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) will be purchasing 18 new vehicles after the Lake County Board of supervisors approved the request and waived the normal sealed bid process.
“The sealed bid process would not result in a lower price or an economic benefit to the county,” Sheriff Brian Martin told the board.
Of the 18 vehicles, seven will be unmarked Ford Taurus’, which will be used by the LCSO investigation division. The remaining 11 vehicles will be marked vehicles for the enforcement division, of which five will be Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) and six will be Ford Police Interceptor sedans.
“The new model Police Interceptors are not large enough to accommodate some of our taller and larger deputies,” Martin explained. “We have one deputy who is just under seven feet tall and several that are well into the above six foot range.”
The purchases will total a little more than $408,000.
“These are to replace our existing fleet vehicles that are to be going out of service due to mileage,” LCSO Undersheriff Chris Macedo said.
Quotes were received from Ukiah Ford, Kathy Fowler Chevrolet in Lakeport, Corning Ford and Sacramento-based Downtown Ford for each request, Martin said. Ukiah Ford provided the lowest bid, despite Downtown Ford being contracted with the state.
For the SUVs, Downtown Ford quoted a price of slightly more than $31,000 for each vehicle, which would have totaled approximately $155,000. However, Ukiah Ford offered a quote of a little more than $138,000, or a little less than $28,000 for each SUV.
The six marked Ford Police Interceptor sedans, Ukiah Ford quoted a total cost of approximately $143,000, or nearly $24,000 per vehicle. Downtown Ford’s quote was a little more than $2,000 higher for each vehicle.
Finally, for the seven unmarked Ford Taurus’, a total bid of slightly more than $127,000 was received from Ukiah Ford, which equals a little more than $18,000 each vehicle. Downtown Ford’s quote was not able to provide a quote for Taurus’, but did provide one for Ford Fusions. However, the Fusions did not meet required specifications.
A total budget of $336,000 had been allocated for the marked vehicles, Martin said. Combined, the purchase of the 11 vehicles would total approximately $281,000. However, only a little more than $100,000 had been budgeted for the unmarked Taurus’, meaning an additional $27,000 would be needed for the purchase.
Martin requested that the board approve a transfer of funds from the LCSO reserves to cover the remaining cost.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith mentioned that the Clearlake Police Department purchased the same SUVs and that Chief Craig Clausen said the ground clearance is “less than you would expect.”
“If you hit that, it’s a $3,000 bill,” Smith said.
Macedo assured Smith that the LCSO is well aware of that and officers “are instructed to drive that car with care and caution. To be cognizant of the terrain you are in and don’t try to go through an area where you have significant chance of causing damage.”
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
