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Commission accepts low bid on vehicles

By Joel Walsh - | Feb 14, 2007

The Leavenworth County Commission has authorized the purchase of 10 new sheriff’s vehicles, opting to go with the lowest possible bid over buying the vehicles locally.

By purchasing the vehicles at federal General Services Administration pricing, the county will save roughly $31,300 or about 17 percent of the total expenditure of $183,200.

The Sheriff’s Office will buy three new V-8 sedans, five V-6 midsize sedans, a V-6 midsize sport utility vehicle and a V-8 half-ton truck.

All three commissioners expressed displeasure with not buying locally, but ultimately the savings for the county and its taxpayers overrode any of their apprehensions.

“I think (Danny) Zeck and (Henry) Martens gave very good, competitive bids compared with other dealerships,” said Commission Chairman J.C. Tellefson.

“My problem is with Ford Motor Company,” said Commissioner Clyde Graeber. “Apparently they’re providing vehicles through GSA cheaper than we can buy from local merchants. It handicaps the dealer, who employs 80-plus people and pays six figures in property taxes.”

Sheriff David Zoellner said the sheriff’s department qualifies for GSA pricing so long as the vehicles would be used in drug enforcement activities.

In other business Thursday, Emergency Management director Chuck Magaha petitioned the commission to reclassify an employee, Debbie Winetroub, as deputy director of Emergency Management.

Winetroub’s duties would include planning and testing emergency exercises, as well as serving as a liaison with the health department. Magaha said Winetroub already has assumed the duties.

“This gives her and I a better idea of where she stands,” Magaha said.

The reclassification gives Winetroub an opportunity to have her compensation re-evaluated at a later date, although a salary increase was not specifically mentioned Thursday.