Commissioners approve short-term fixes for sheriff evidence yard and order RFP for EMS backup contract

County staff and public-safety officials told the board the sheriff's evidence-storage facility has significant problems—roof leaks, nonfunctional cameras and unsecured yards where seized vehicles have been vandalized. The board discussed three practical steps: a focused patch (replace skylights and repair problem points), an evidence audit with the district attorney's office to determine what may be legally discarded, and relocating vehicles to the county's Dixie Guano property behind a secure, fenced area while longer-term solutions are developed.

Sheriff's personnel and public-works staff favored a minimal approach to stop further damage and theft: short-term repairs and a cleanout to reduce the building's footprint, combined with moving vehicles that are at risk now. Commissioners asked staff for firm cost estimates to repair the skylights and provide quotes for fencing and securing a portion of the Dixie Guano site, noting that proper chain-of-custody procedures must accompany any moves.

Separately, commissioners raised concerns about an antiquated backup/transport contract with Braveheart: the contract is old, unclear and not competitively bid. The board voted to release a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit competitive bids for the county's nonemergency medical-transport and EMS backup services; staff were directed to craft modern contract terms and solicit offers to be in place by mid‑year.

The board's decisions were procedural and preparatory; they set direction for staff to obtain price estimates and to run the RFP process rather than approving large capital expenditures at this meeting.