BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court is helping Sheriff John Kirk to replace worn-out law enforcement cruisers.

Kirk asked the fiscal court to consider using the $22,000 excess fees his office collected and turned over to the county last week toward securing vehicles.

“That’s money that we earned,” Kirk told the magistrates and Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty during a fiscal court meeting April 20. “The sheriff’s office is a fee office, so we had to work for that money – it’s not free money.”

Kirk reminded officials that it had been six years since the fiscal court contributed $57,000 toward purchasing three cruisers. The remaining $50,000 for those cruisers came through a federal grant.

“My vehicles are worn out,” said Kirk. “And I’m asking the fiscal court to consider using the $22,000 to pay toward purchasing or leasing … I believe the lease deal would be the best way to go because you could get new vehicles every three years. The $22,000 would go a pretty good way towards that lease. So I would like you guys to consider that and maybe start some kind of effort to help us get some cruisers. All of our Dodges are worn out.”

One of the sheriff’s cruisers is in the body shop with $11,000 in damage, while a Tahoe he purchased three years ago has surpassed 50,000 miles on the odometer.

“When you have a cruiser that has 100,000 miles on it, most agencies start to surplus those out,” said Kirk. “I would appreciate it if you all would consider it.”

Judge Lafferty told Kirk that he had informed the magistrates of the critical need for police cruisers.

“A vehicle, after you get several hundred thousand miles on it, is worn out,” Lafferty said. “You get to the point where you’re working on it and paying more than what it’s worth.”

The judge announced the county had started the process of seeking funding for new vehicles.

“I think it’s an excellent idea to use the money that the sheriff’s office has earned toward that,” said Lafferty. “I would be in favor.”

Lafferty said the court would need to amend the budget and move forward at the next meeting.