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Politics & Government

Confusion Reigns Over County's Vehicle Use Policy

County Executive and council at odds over resolution's reach.

Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller said Jefferson County Council members overstepped their bounds earlier this month when they adopted a resolution requiring all county vehicles, including sheriff’s department vehicles, to be parked on county property when not in use for county business.

But county council members say the resolution was never intended to include the sheriff’s department.

The resolution, aimed at reducing fuel consumption and approved by the county council Sept. 12, states that “all county vehicles shall only be used for county business and when not in use shall be parked on county property.”

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The resolution does not specifically name the vehicles included in the sheriff’s fleet.

However, some county government regulars interpreted the resolution as including the sheriff’s department after county counselor Wes Yates, in response to a question from the council, said the resolution “could” be interpreted to include the sheriff’s fleet.

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“After reflection and discussion with other similarly situated counties, I believe that the County Council, while rightly concerned with vehicle usage and fuel consumption, exceeded its authority and became involved in administrative matters that are the responsibility of the executive branch of county government and other elected office holders,” Waller said in a press release.

County councilman Don Bickowski said the resolution was never intended to include the vehicles in the sheriff’s fleet.

“The way I read the legislation that was passed it talks about the county fleet policy, which applies to the executive department and executive branch of the government,” Bickowski said. “The sheriff’s fleet policy is the sheriff’s and is not mentioned in the resolution.”

District 5 Councilwoman Teresa “Terri” Kreitler agreed.

“The sheriff, as far as I’m concerned, is an elected official who runs his own department,” Kreitler said. “That’s the way the (county) charter is written.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Oliver “Glenn” Boyer was unavailable for comment for this article. 

However, Undersheriff Lt. Col Steve Meinberg said the department has studied the issue and determined that allowing deputies and other officers to take vehicles home in their off-duty hours actually saves fuel and reduces response time, while providing a deterrent to crime by placing sheriff’s vehicles in the community.

“The sheriff has always been cost conscious and conscious of helping the county cut costs when he can,” Meinberg said. “We can show that we’re saving the county money. Our analysis shows that our take home cars actually save fuel and reduce response time and provide a deterrent and increase our manpower on the road.”

Waller said he planned to issue an executive order at the next regular council meeting on Oct. 11 regarding vehicle usage and requiring a twice yearly review and monitoring of vehicles and fuel usage by each county department.

In the meantime, Waller said his administration will continue to work with county departments to evaluate the use of county-owned vehicles for commuting to and from work on an “as-needed basis.”

“I intend to work with each county department and the sheriff in an effort to conserve fuel while still serving the needs of both county government and the citizens of Jefferson County,” Waller said in the press release. 

“I have met with Sheriff Boyer and discussed his department’s policy for operating county vehicles, including his department’s vehicle ‘take home’ policy,” Waller said in the release.

“In addition, he has reassured me that his staff will audit the use of all public safety vehicles to insure that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.  The sheriff of Jefferson County will continue to utilize all vehicles assigned to his department as he believes best protects public safety in our county,” Waller said.

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