Carter County approves Can-Am side-by-side for rural fire, asks for procurement documentation

The Carter County commissioners approved payment to Beaverhead Motorsports for a 2026 Can-Am side-by-side intended for rural fire operations and agreed the vehicle will be stored at the county shop and made available to other departments as needed.

Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the previously withheld claim for $31,283.49; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The requester (speaker 9), who described acquiring multiple vehicles and a snowblower for emergency uses, said federal grant funds would cover the purchase and that he would provide pictures and written quotes from other dealers to support procurement documentation. “I can probably get [quotes] in 10 minutes,” the participant said when asked to produce documentation.

Commissioner (speaker 3) and other commissioners emphasized the county’s procurement policy requires documentation of price checks; they asked the purchaser to submit the quotes and any email confirmations to county staff for auditor review. The board recorded that repairs and future maintenance for the vehicle would come from the fire budget when used for emergency response.

The motion included a condition that the side-by-side be stored at the county shop and be available to other county divisions as required; the board carried the motion by voice vote with no public opposition recorded.