Why did Commissioners block the transfer of a car between county offices? The Scioto County Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office have agreed to transfer a 2012 Dodge Charger patrol car with 68,000 miles on the odometer.
County Commissioners blocked the transfer. They say they aren’t rejecting the idea because they don’t approve of the transfer but because there was not actual request to transfer the car, just a notice that it had been agreed to. Commissioner Bryan Davis said, “Before asking us to approve a contract, I believe there is due process that needs to be done.”
There is an ongoing dispute between the commissioners and the Sheriff’s Office over 79 vehicles that were stored on private property instead of being auctioned off by the county. That matter is currently under review by the Ohio Auditor of State.
Davis said, “The best way to control our fleet and to make sure these cars go to appropriate places. I’m a little concerned that a car that has 68,000 miles on it is being transferred outside of our sheriff’s fleet. I don’t understand that. That is low miles. We have older cars than this that haven’t been transferred yet.”
He said commissioners would have a conversation with both parties to find out the reason for the transfer. “We need to make sure that our fleets are maintained. You know we’ve had problems int he past.” Davis said he’s not picking a fight over a car transfer but it was important to follow the rule.
Commissioner Cathy Coleman said it was important to monitor any transfer of vehicles. “Things have gotten a little fuzzy. From this point forward, let’s do this the correct way. It’s not that we don’t want them to have the car. But let’s just do this properly from now on so there are no more issues like the vehicles out at Belford’s.”
Davis said it was important that other county departments not make deals like the patrol car transfer that leave the commissioners out of the mix. “These cars are titled to the Board of Commissioners. There needs to be due process. This is skipping step one.” He said that the transfer of the car could still happen. “There’s a proper process. We’ll get it.”
