Commissioners restrict take-home vehicle use

[Miss Scarlet]

There is an article in The News Sun today entitled "Commissioners restrict take-home vehicle use". Which county employees, other than sheriff's deputies, have take home cars?

[james_t]

Scarlet:

I asked Bob Braley and here is his response:

I don't have exact numbers, but I know that the Sheriff's Department has about 20, the County EMA director has one and so does the county engineer. The sheriff's vehicles and the EMA director's will likely be allowed to continue. There are also take-home vehicles associated with the health and surveyor's departments, which I understand may be among those to be scrutinized quite carefully by the commissioners. The highway department will probably request that plows can be taken home when winter weather merits it, and that request will probably be granted.

[Miss Scarlet]

Scarlet:

I asked Bob Braley and here is his response:

I don't have exact numbers, but I know that the Sheriff's Department has about 20, the County EMA director has one and so does the county engineer. The sheriff's vehicles and the EMA director's will likely be allowed to continue. There are also take-home vehicles associated with the health and surveyor's departments, which I understand may be among those to be scrutinized quite carefully by the commissioners. The highway department will probably request that plows can be taken home when winter weather merits it, and that request will probably be granted.

I am ignorant in this matter. Why does the health department and surveyor's department have take home cars?

[james_t]

Why does the health department and surveyor's department have take home cars?

The commissioners are apparently asking the same question.

I'm told the health inspector sometimes takes the car home to drive to appointments from his home, which makes a little more sense in terms of mileage than driving to the office to pick up the car and then drive to an appointment.

We're not sure about the surveyor.

[Miss Scarlet]

The commissioners are apparently asking the same question.

I'm told the health inspector sometimes takes the car home to drive to appointments from his home, which makes a little more sense in terms of mileage than driving to the office to pick up the car and then drive to an appointment.

We're not sure about the surveyor.

During my quest to find the answers to my questions, I heard that the guy in charge of the jail and the guy in charge of the dispatchers have take home cars.....is that true?

[james_t]

During my quest to find the answers to my questions, I heard that the guy in charge of the jail and the guy in charge of the dispatchers have take home cars.....is that true?

We don't know for sure. The head of dispatchers is also a firefighter and the person in charge of the jail is also a sheriff's deputy, so they may have the cars in those capacities, but it's nothing that's been communicated to the paper.

[happygolucky]

We don't know for sure. The head of dispatchers is also a firefighter and the person in charge of the jail is also a sheriff's deputy, so they may have the cars in those capacities, but it's nothing that's been communicated to the paper.

so what the guy in charge of the dispatch is a firefighter, totally different budget and employment. He shouldn't have a take home period because he is the dispatch supervisor. I would love to see how many people would be upset if they saw the dispatch supervisor driving his take home to a fire call that has nothing to do with his full time job in which his car is for?

The person in charge of the jail is not a deputy. He is the jail commander. He does not patrol the roads or make arrests. His car is needed for his golf trips with the sherrif.

[happygolucky]

During my quest to find the answers to my questions, I heard that the guy in charge of the jail and the guy in charge of the dispatchers have take home cars.....is that true?


I am sure, I have seen the cars at their residences. Not very hard to find or spot. Both totally unmarked too!

[HomeyG]

Does anyone know if any of these take home vehicles are being used for personal reasons?

[Miss Scarlet]

so what the guy in charge of the dispatch is a firefighter, totally different budget and employment. He shouldn't have a take home period because he is the dispatch supervisor. I would love to see how many people would be upset if they saw the dispatch supervisor driving his take home to a fire call that has nothing to do with his full time job in which his car is for?

The person in charge of the jail is not a deputy. He is the jail commander. He does not patrol the roads or make arrests. His car is needed for his golf trips with the sherrif.

So it sounds like the Commissioners are looking into this for a good reason.

Does anyone know if the take home car is a perk or considered a part of the salary for these people?

[Jethro Gibbs]

So it sounds like the Commissioners are looking into this for a good reason.

Does anyone know if the take home car is a perk or considered a part of the salary for these people?

From what I've heard it depends on whatever those in charge need it to be... goes something like this: Employee- "no raises?" Gov't official- "we give you a car to drive, that's worth $3000 to $5000 to you." Or maybe like this: Gov't official-"Gee, gas sure is getting high, you need to stop driving those cars" Employee- "we thought that was part of our pay" Gov't official- "who told you that??"

[Copycatted]

Scarlet:

I asked Bob Braley and here is his response:

I don't have exact numbers, but I know that the Sheriff's Department has about 20, the County EMA director has one and so does the county engineer. The sheriff's vehicles and the EMA director's will likely be allowed to continue. There are also take-home vehicles associated with the health and surveyor's departments, which I understand may be among those to be scrutinized quite carefully by the commissioners. The highway department will probably request that plows can be taken home when winter weather merits it, and that request will probably be granted.

If EMA is as Bill Browns Emergency Management Director and employees here in Steuben HURAW on that...

[james_t]

More today on take-home vehicles:

ALBION — After a heated discussion, the Noble County Commissioners Monday permitted Noble County Surveyor Scott Zeigler to continue to use a take-home vehicle — barely.

The argument became so heated that, at one point, Zeigler pounded the commissioners table, yelling and threatening a lawsuit as the commissioners considered a motion to disallow his take-home vehicle.

http://www.fwdailynews.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/the_news_sun/hid37019sect_c1853905feab8ba9405.txt

[Ligonite]

Seems like if a take-home vehicle has been provided for a significant period of time, then the employee will tend to view the vehicle as part of the whole compensation package. Taking it away at that point is like cutting the person's pay. Now maybe those employees deserve a pay cut, but let's call it what it is, not pretend it's an easy and fair way to save the taxpayers money.

Maybe the bigger question would be how many of these vehicles are necessary, take-home or not? Certainly there will be some need for county vehicles. But maybe in some cases it would benefit everyone more by paying a fair mileage rate for personal vehicle use. Just a thought...

[Graygleam]

Is much surveying done at night? Just wondering.

[Copycatted]

Is much surveying done at night? Just wondering.

I was going there Graygleam:)

Now if somehow the Surveyers job has been figured into 911 situations which would not surprise me the least (meaning) it only took 18? different 911 Agencies since 09'11 to get it right. If that's the case though maybe they'd better install yellow flashing lights on their helmets before they go trapsing around on personal property at 3:00am:)

Oops Graygleam. Strike the yellow flashing light idea. Criminals will take that lead:y:

[Miss Scarlet]

More today on take-home vehicles:

ALBION — After a heated discussion, the Noble County Commissioners Monday permitted Noble County Surveyor Scott Zeigler to continue to use a take-home vehicle — barely.

The argument became so heated that, at one point, Zeigler pounded the commissioners table, yelling and threatening a lawsuit as the commissioners considered a motion to disallow his take-home vehicle.

http://www.fwdailynews.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/the_news_sun/hid37019sect_c1853905feab8ba9405.txt


Wow! Thanks James T for sharing that. I'm not really sure what to say. I'm sure that was some sight to see, though!

I guess I still don't understand why some departments need a take home car when it would seem that just paying mileage would be less expensive. :hmmmm:

[Jethro Gibbs]

More today on take-home vehicles:

ALBION — After a heated discussion, the Noble County Commissioners Monday permitted Noble County Surveyor Scott Zeigler to continue to use a take-home vehicle — barely.

The argument became so heated that, at one point, Zeigler pounded the commissioners table, yelling and threatening a lawsuit as the commissioners considered a motion to disallow his take-home vehicle.

[/url]

Note to other people losing take home vehicles, it appears if you threaten to sue you'll get your way.

Now that you mention it... last time I was out driving around, after normal courthouse hours, and saw something going on that had a lot of police activity including a swat team, fire dept, and ems the surveyor was right in the middle of it. Got to make sure of those property lines when you're taking down a meth lab.

I'm pretty sure that I've also seen him plowing the roads at 4 in the morning with the county highway guys.

Thats what I call service!!