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The Scott County Sheriff’s Department needs eight new patrol cars, but would settle for three at the present time.

That was the sentiment expressed by Sheriff Anthony Lay at Scott County Commission’s regular session on Tuesday (Jan. 22), as the department continues to move towards upgrading its aging fleet of vehicles.

Lay, who had previously requested three new patrol cars through the Finance Committee, presented commissioners with a chart breaking down the mileage of the department’s vehicles.

Among those vehicles, five have fewer than 100,000 miles — including four patrol cars authorized for purchase by County Commission in 2007 and the sheriff’s SUV, which was authorized for purchase by the commission during the administration of Jim Carson. Another 10 vehicles have 100,000 to 150,000 miles, while six have 150,000 to 200,000 miles, one of which had rolled over 200,000 miles since the chart had been prepared Lay said. Five additional cars have 200,000 to 250,000 miles, he said, and another car has 266,000 miles.

In order to take all eight vehicles over or near 200,000 miles off the road, Lay said, the department needs eight new patrol cars. He cited liability and safety issues as the reason for needing to upgrade to newer vehicles, which would cost the county an estimated $250,000.

“As a sheriff, I think you all have been very good to us,” Lay said. “So it bothers me to come to the commission to say, ‘hey, I need eight patrol cars.’ But as an administrator looking out for the liability and safety of my officers, I don’t hesitate a bit to come and ask you.

“This is a problem that has occurred over the course of time,” he added. “It’s a problem that I have to fix as a sheriff, and a problem that as County Commission and as sheriff, we have to fix together.”

Finance Committee Chairman Mike Slaven did not have an immediate recommendation for County Commission on the purchase of the new vehicles. He said that the committee is going to look into purchasing the vehicles from a cost feasability standpoint. The committee’s recommendation would then be forwarded to County Commission.

In another matter of discussion that came without formal action, Director of Schools Sharon Wilson reminded commissioners of “two major construction issues that you all are going to have to face,” speaking of a new school at Robbins and a major expansion project at Burchfield.

The two projects have collectively been the source of an on-again, off-again discussion between the Board of Education and County Commission over the past 18 months, and the subject was raised Tuesday by Commissioner Slaven, who asked about the overcrowding problem at Burchfield.

Administrators at Burchfield School employed the use of two additional modular buildings last fall, in addition to the modular building already being used on the school’s campus. A total of five classrooms are now housed in the modular buildings, and the school’s cafeteria is said to be too small to adequately serve the school’s expanding student body.

“Overcrowding is a big problem at Burchfield,” Wilson said. “They need a major addition at that school. And when you talk about that, you have to talk about the other end of the county, where Robbins has a school that is over 50 years old.”

Wilson said that the gymnasium floor at Robbins is “buckling” in the middle, and tile is falling from the ceiling in a portion of the building.

“It’s pathetic,” she said.

The Board of Education has approved an architect for the eventual school projects, and land has been acquired for a new school at Robbins.

Members of the Commission and County Mayor Rick Keeton also talked at length about the chosen location for a pumping station at Robbins, in the New River community. Some members of the community have objected to the placement of the pumping station.

Among action taken by County Commission Tuesday evening:

• By unanimous vote, road names were approved for Brady Private Lane and Burn Ridge Private Lane, as previously approved by the Planning Commission;

• The list of county holidays for 2008 was approved by a 12-0 vote;

• A bid by Byrd Fencing in the amount of $3,495 for a fence at the Scott County Airport was approved; and,

• The purchase of two new tables for Commission meetings, at a cost of $1,052, was approved by a 9-3 vote over the protests of 6th District Commissioner Ron Blevins. Voting no were Commissioners Blevins, Joel Newport and Paul Strunk. Commissioners Gerry Garrett and Alan Reed were not present.