After some consideration regarding bids for new police cruisers, Lincoln County Commissioners unanimously approved the low bid from O’Connor’s Motors in Augusta March 2.
The dealership bid $20,999 for Chevrolet Impalas, which are equipped with front-wheel drive unlike most of the current fleet used by Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies.
“We need to keep the integrity of the bidding process so we need to go with the low bidder in good faith,” said Chairman Bill Blodgett.
A selling point to confirm the low bid as the final choice concerned the Chevrolet’s flex fuel capacity for use of bio-fuel, which Commissioner Sheridan Bond said would provide an increase in gas mileage based on his research on the subject.
The current federally mandated use of ethanol in automotive gasoline has wreaked havoc with small engines as well as some automobile engines resulting in some loss of gas mileage, he said.
Sheriff Todd Brackett said he preferred rear-wheel cruisers for high-speed purposes. Currently the department has only a couple of cruisers with front wheel drive.
Brackett made the board aware any changeover would require at least a one-time cost for 40 hours of training on front-wheel drive handling for high speed.
“If it’s front wheel drive you want us to transition to, that’s fine,” he said. “Eventually all staff members will have training.”
Bond said the changeover would be good as long as it has benefits for the department and the county as a whole.
“The Impalas give the best mileage and hold up,” he said. “Front wheel drive cars do a lot better in snow. That would be a plus.” Bond also said York County has 35 Impalas and likes them.
Until now, the Sheriff’s Dept. has used the front wheel drive cruisers for secondary response and all staff members using them have received training for them, Brackett said.
The board also approved the purchase of a $924 hidden camera for indoor and outdoor purposes wherever needed in the county at businesses or other locations at the request of Sheriff Brackett.
Brackett recommended that funds for the camera come from the forfeiture account.
Bond said, “It is a step in the right direction for the future. A lot of businesses will have situations in the future that may have a big impact on helping arrest people involved.”
Bond was referring to a current rash of burglaries at fire departments and town offices lately in search of cash.
In other business concerning the Sheriff’s Dept., the board approved a request for 10-day leave without pay for a planned vacation for Dep. Brent Barter who used earned time for surgery recently.
The board also looked at bids for servicing department motor vehicles from six businesses and tabled a decision on it pending review and recommendation from Sheriff Brackett and County Administrator John O’Connell.
The services stations submitting bids include Hillside Collision Center, Inc. in Waldoboro, G & G Towing and Quick Service Inc. in Boothbay, Wiscasset Ford, Grover Auto & Tire in Wiscasset, New England Motors in Warren, Safford & Son in Wiscasset.
