TIFTON — The County Board of Commissioners approved purchases for vehicles and equipment at their most recent meeting.

At the behest of the county fire, public works and sheriff’s departments, commissioners green-lit the purchase of a 2024 Ford Explorer, Athens 8-foot harrow, and four 2024 Dodge Durangos, and a Ford Expedition during their June 10 meeting.

This equipment will replace those currently in use by the county, which are in need of retirement or, in the case of the fire department, are currently unavailable.

County officials explained that the Explorer would serve as a replacement model for a fire department vehicle that had been totaled in an accident on I-75 May 9.

The five vehicles purchased for the sheriff’s department will be switched in to retire many of the department’s high-mileage vehicles, county manager Jim Carter said, while the harrow would serve as an upgrade to the public works department’s current, but very old machine.

Public works manager Jason Jordan stated at the June 4 meeting that the harrow was bordering on 30 years old and was becoming difficult to keep in peak condition. 

The new Explorer will be purchased from Brannen Ford for $47,000, the state contract price, but county officials reported that the vehicle would be sold with emergency lighting, warning system, and lettering packages, bringing the total up to $60,420. Of this price, they estimated the county would pay approximately $9,849 after accounting for payouts from the totaled vehicle’s insurance and deductible.

Carter stated that the Durangos would each be $42,700, totaling $170,800, and the Expedition would cost $60,854, with all five vehicles being purchased from Griffin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Valdosta.

Lastly, the harrow will be purchased from Lasseter Equipment, determined to be the cheapest seller, for $14,500.

Funding for the police vehicles will come from the sheriff’s department budget, while the harrow will be purchased using TSPLOST funds.