A few Grimes County Constables are getting some new police vehicles, but not without a lengthy discussion and nearly 2 hours of concerns raised during the most recent Commissioner’s Court meeting.
Precinct 2 Constable Blake Jarvis presented a contract from Enterprise Fleet Management for two Ford Police interceptors, and a Silverado Crew Cab. Jarvis said the vehicle issues date back, even to his time as a jailer 23 years ago.
“Let me tell you about my current fleet. I have three vehicles. One is a 2011, a hand me down from the Sheriff’s Office, and it has 215,000 miles. Another that I drive, which Constable’s Wells’ former vehicle, is a 2012, with 140,000 miles. The other is a 2018, with 115,000 miles on it as we speak,” said Jarvis.
He says this year, they have performed over $9,000 in maintenance, which is over his line item budget.
Concerns arose from County Auditor Jessi Murphy, then Commissioner Philip Cox and Barbara Walker, who shared their opinion that the county could buy the vehicles as county assets, staying away from management fees.
“What I am saying, there is no equity in this for the county, there is no asset to the county. It, in turn, becomes [Enterprises] vehicle, and, if you go out of business tomorrow…we are stuck trying to go out, and come up with an abundance of money. To either buy from you, or buy other vehicles to replace them,” said Commissioner Barbara Walker.
The Commissioners approved the contract for vehicles to be leased for the Constable’s office. The vote passed 3-2, with County Judge Joe Fauth, and Commissioner’s David Dobyanski and Chad Mallet voting in favor, and Cox and Walker voting against.