Sheriff’s Office officials briefed Scott County commissioners Oct. 8 on multiple operational matters, including potential vehicle purchases, a request to authorize a commissary credit card, and ongoing debate over whether jail maintenance should be funded from the sheriff’s budget or county budgets.

Sheriff said radios and other equipment had been bought, noted recent power-surge damage to freezers and IT equipment at county facilities and presented competitive bids for two new vehicles and an undercover/trade‑in arrangement. He provided bid totals from three dealers for 2025 model Durango/AWD-type vehicles and asked commissioners to authorize a purchase; commissioners urged a coordinated approach. They asked the sheriff to provide the specific two vehicles he plans to trade in and the vehicles he would like to add so the county can list trades for auction and ensure the fleet reduction strategy stated in prior court‑ordered guidance is followed. The sheriff agreed to provide the vehicle list by the board’s Oct. 15 meeting.

The sheriff also requested authorization for a commissary credit card to make purchases for the inmate commissary account. Commissioners approved creation of the fund and adoption of county internal-control ordinance language the county uses for officials’ credit cards; the board approved the credit-card resolution for the sheriff’s commissary account.

On jail maintenance funding, the sheriff asked whether maintenance for the jail building — which is titled in the commissioners’ name, while the sheriff operates the jail — should be budgeted within the sheriff’s budget. Commissioners said they would recommend the sheriff include anticipated maintenance needs in his 2026 budget requests so responsibilities are clear and to avoid future disputes. Commissioners and the sheriff agreed to continue regular communication about contracting and budget planning.

The sheriff also proposed exploring automated traffic enforcement cameras on county roads as a potential deterrent where manpower is limited; commissioners encouraged him to pull together a cost plan and legal framework for review. Commissioners approved one title-signing request related to community corrections vehicles and agreed to permit signing of undercover-vehicle title documents outside the meeting when needed.

No final purchase of the new vehicle was approved at the Oct. 8 meeting; the board said it would act after receipt of the trade-in information and additional coordination on fleet reductions.