Quorum Court to forward ordinance allocating $102,773 insurance proceeds to sheriff vehicle fund

Pulaski County’s Quorum Court voted to forward Ordinance 26I16 — recognizing and appropriating insurance reimbursement funds to purchase patrol vehicles — to the full court with a recommended do-pass.

Major Greg Evans, of the sheriff’s office enforcement branch, told the court the county received $102,773 in insurance payments after eight vehicles were damaged or totaled. He said those insurance proceeds were deposited in the general fund and asked the court to transfer them to the sheriff’s vehicle line (line item 4,005) to purchase vehicles and equipment.

Evans warned the court that the reimbursement amount would purchase “basically one vehicle” after equipment and outfitting, and said the department still faces a larger fleet problem. “We realistically need to replace 29 vehicles,” he said, adding that many patrol vehicles have more than 150,000 miles and the department has been forced to repair expensive components like engines and transmissions.

Justice McCoy moved the item to the full court with a recommended do-pass; the roll call recorded 15 ayes. The court did not adopt the appropriation at this meeting; the ordinance will go before the full quorum court for final action.