Columbus County Commissioners turned down a request from the Sheriff’s office to immediately replace more than 15 vehicles, at a cost of $750,000. Captain Creech from the sheriff’s office explained that maintenance and repair costs far exceeded the budget for this year, reducing the number of available vehicles.
The board opted for ten new cars to replace the most worn vehicles, delivered in the new fiscal year.
Sheriff Bill Rogers asked to withdraw his request to take over 911 operations, and asked that a committee instead be established to help manage the department. Acting emergency services director Kay Stephens said she wasn’t aware of specific problems that have been mentioned by fire chiefs in the county. Staffing is a priority for the center, she said. Columbus missed the state standard of call response in December, she said, but efforts are underway to improve the response rate.
Commissioners voted to keep communications under the county’s jurisdiction.
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