Edgefield County Council held a mid-afternoon budget workshop last week with only one member of the public attending.

Chairman Monroe Kneece said he felt the meeting would be over quickly as there were to be no changes in the budget since the May 4 second reading.

Councilman Ashcraft asked if two patrol vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office had been included and Chairman Kneece said they had not.

“I guess my comments stand from last reading,” Councilman Ashcraft said. “I’d just like it to be on the record that I am suggesting that we purchase the Sheriff’s vehicles and we need an ambulance that will be out of its mileage life.”

With a motion to accept the budget in its present form by Vice chairman Willie Bright and a second, Chairman Kneece called for vote which drew four voting in the affirmative and Councilwoman Genia Blackwell refusing to vote. She said after the meeting that they were at the workshop to work on the budget, not to be casting votes.

Chairman Kneece told Councilman Ashcraft he did not see anything changing between then and the final reading at the June 1 County Council meeting, adding “When you got your motion going, then how ‘bout finding out where you’re going to get the money.”

Councilman Ashcraft responded that he intended to get it from the same place the funds to cover Chairman Kneece’s budget amendment had come from, the reserve funds.

Art Biggs, a member of the audience, was asked if he had any comments and he questioned the choice not to provide for Sheriff’s “pursuit vehicles”. Mr. Biggs explained that he had served as Fiscal Officer for the State Police while in New Jersey and they were faced with the same dilemma while he was serving.

“And we didn’t buy the vehicles. It took us five years to catch up to where we should have been the next year,” he said.

He asked if it was absolutely necessary to replace some of the patrol vehicles being discussed.

“If they are pure pursuit vehicles, I think they should be replaced otherwise you’re going to get in a hole,” Mr. Biggs said.

Chairman Kneece said there were only two vehicles that were beyond the replacement mileage, but “there are several that are just below the line.” Chairman Kneece said he had spoken with Sheriff Adell Dobey and, “he said he would be fine for another year.”

Councilwoman Blackwell spoke saying, “I think we need more clarity from the Sheriff.”

She stated it was her understanding there were a number of cars that were at 90,000 to 100,000 miles. And the ‘golden number’ is what? 125,000?”

She said that she would like more information from Sheriff Dobey because she understood that next fiscal year the number of vehicles beyond the 125,000 mark would increase dramatically. 

“For that reason I would like to have more clarity from the Sheriff,” Blackwell said adding she would like to have him come in and, “tell us where he is, what he needs and what kind of condition the cars are in.”

Chairman Kneece said if you ask the Sheriff what he needs, “you might as well get your catalog out because he’s going to give you a bunch of things.”

County Administrator Alton Brown spoke up and said the matter has been brought up for discussion before and according to the information provided by the Sheriff there were three vehicles that have already exceeded the 125,000 mile mark. Mr. Brown stated the cost of a patrol car is around $40,000 with all the equipment and the cost of an ambulance was stated at $130,000. He suggested having a purchasing program in place that would put money back so when the vehicles are needed “we already have the money”.

Over the past several years the county council has followed a rotation schedule where patrol cars are concerned, and replaced anywhere between three to four vehicles each year to keep the fleet within the acceptable standards for emergency response vehicles.

Chairman Kneece said the main objective is to get through this year and the next year and he did not expect state funding to increase in the near future.

Mr. Kneece stated there were enough in the reserves to fund the needs for “this year and possibly next year” and that the county council is not touching the three months reserves held to carry the county over between the time tax bills are sent out and revenues begin to be received.

Kneece stated when he first joined council the county would have to borrow money to pay the light bill and pay employees. “I don’t ever want to see the county get in that shape again.”

With no other business the meeting was adjourned.

Edgefielddaily.com contributed to this report.