Quorum Court approves $1-per-year lease of sheriff's vehicle to city; older vehicle to be auctioned

The Pope County Quorum Court approved an ordinance authorizing the county judge to lease a sheriff’s office vehicle to a city under a nominal $1-per-year lease and approved suspending rules to complete second and third readings during the same meeting.

County officials described the arrangement as an in-kind swap: the city will return an older truck it had leased from the county and receive the sheriff's older truck in exchange; the county will assign a newer 2015-model truck to the sheriff’s office. "So Act Atkins will turn in an old truck they've had at the counties. It will go to auction," the county judge said, describing the vehicle rotation. The transcript indicates the city and county coordinated the exchange and that the trade ultimately results in an auction of the older county vehicle.

The court voted on a motion to suspend the rules and proceed to second and third readings, then voted to approve the ordinance. The clerk recorded roll-call votes in favor on the second and third readings and the ordinance was approved. The transcript records Mayor Sweet as the city contact the county judge consulted but does not include a statement from the mayor in the meeting record.

The transcript does not include a written lease, vehicle identification numbers, or a formal purchase price; it records only the $1-per-year lease term and the plan to auction the older vehicle.