The court approved the purchase of the Freightliner vehicles for Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 for $921,640.61 and $942,940.61 respectively. The county will use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for the new vehicles.
The vehicles also would be available for use by the county's other two precincts.
While the vehicles are identical, Purchasing Director Gilbert Jalomo said because the units were ordered at different times, the pricing is slightly more for the Precinct 3 vehicle.
Both commissioners said they have crews on staff licensed to drive the vehicles.
Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said the vehicles are a good use of the federal funds.
"It's not only a smart and prudent move, it is one of the best things to do with these ARPA funds," Noack said. "I have no desire to just look for a reason to spend ARPA funds."
Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker said the command vehicles are versatile.
"It can be used for so many different things," Walker said.
Jason Millsaps, executive director of the county's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office each have command vehicles but they are more law enforcement centric.
The purchase of the command vehicles comes on the heels of the county's $1.25 million purchase of an ambulance that can hold up to 21 patients.
Millsaps said the ambulance coupled with the command centers is critical in how the county responds to disasters in the future. The ambulance will be staffed by personnel with the Montgomery County Hospital District. The unit is expected to be delivered to the county in April.
A timeline for the new command vehicles was not available.
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