Lakeport >> Two large purchases with a combined estimated cost of close to $275,000 were approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors at their Tuesday, Sept. 8 meeting.
The board approved a $100,432 expenditure by the Department of Social Services to purchase six additional Ford Fusions from Downtown Ford of Sacramento to be used as agency vehicles.
In the 2013-14 Fiscal year, bidding was opened to purchase six vehicles for the department, and of the nine bids received, Downtown Ford’s was “significantly lower than all other bidders,” according to documents provided to the supervisors. During the next fiscal year, 11 additional units were negotiated for at the same price. Downtown Ford agreed to honor that same price on the purchase of the six new units. As such, it was decided there was no financial benefit to open competitive bidding, so the process was waived.
The total estimated cost comes in at less than half of the total budgeted for such purchases, $240,000.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was approved to spend $168,532 on 25 in-vehicle computer systems to be installed in pursuit vehicles. In the memorandum prepared for the board, Sheriff Brian Martin stated that the units will greatly enhance the deputies’ ability to perform in the field.
“It (the new units) will provide deputies with enhanced dispatch capabilities by providing complete up to date details on call information, access to law enforcement computer databases in the field (the ability to run wants/warrants, check vehicle registration, run driver licenses, etc.), as well as the tracking of deputy locations,” he pointed out.
The computers also give the deputies access to mapping features, real time GPS, law enforcement databases and the ability to file reports from their vehicles.
The funds to purchase the units are drawn from the Rural Sheriff’s Fund 2206, and no general fund money will be utilized for the acquisition. There will, however, be ongoing monthly costs for wireless services, which function as the data connections for the units.
