Commissioners approve buying new CCSO vehicles

Commissioners made short work of a short agenda during the regular Cherokee County Commissioners Court meeting, held Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Court members – without Precinct 2 Commissioner Steven Norton, who was absent – unanimously approved to purchase four new trucks for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

County officials received three bids for four 2019 four-door, half-ton 4-wheel drive trucks. Bids were opened on Oct. 31, and commissioners on Tuesday approved awarding the bid from Pearman Motor Co. in Alto, the lowest bidder at $26,600 each. Other bids were received from Bill McRae Ford in Jacksonville and Grapevine Dodge in Grapevine.

“We’re anticipating getting these by February,” Sheriff James Campbell told commissioners.

After a short discussion with County Auditor Amanda Scott, commissioners determined a second agenda item authorizing payment for the vehicles would not be necessary.

“We’ve already approved buying these today, it doesn’t make sense to approve it twice,” County Judge Chris Davis said.

Sheriff Campbell was also on hand to review his department’s monthly activity report. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office reported 3,747 calls in the month of October.

“That’s almost twice our normal amount of calls for this time of the year, and I have no idea why,” Campbell told commissioners.

Year-to-date the department has logged 29,781 calls. Offense reports show the majority of cases investigated in October concerned reports of burglary of a building (18 cases); criminal mischief (16 cases); theft (17 cases); and CPS intake (21 cases). Total cases worked in October was 162. Year-to-date total offense cases reported is 1,760.

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved the 2019 volunteer fire department contracts and mutual aid agreements, with no change on any, as per the recommendation of County Emergency Management Coordinator Sergio Servin.

Other items the Commissioners’ Court approved Tuesday include:

- Tax refunds greater than $500;

- amendments to Precinct 2’s road and bridge budget;

- laying utility lines along County Roads 1615 and 1406 in Precinct 1 and on CRs 3305 and 3313 in Precinct 3; and

- the consent agenda, which included court minutes, Precinct 2 Constable Jack White’s monthly report and authorizing bill payment and payroll.

A citizens group was on Tuesday’s agenda to discuss Texas Department of Transportation’s proposed Highway 69 bypass project in Jacksonville, but the group was unavailable to attend, according to county officials.