Citing wear and tear on deputies’ vehicles, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office is seeking $200,000 from the County Commission for new, fully outfitted rides.

Sheriff Mike Blakely and Chief Fred Sloss made the request at Monday’s budget hearing. It was the second and final round of hearings scheduled prior to commissioners finalizing the 2017-2018 budget. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The officials explained to the commissioners that the department would like to begin replacing vehicles in its fleet that have more than 100,000 miles. The department also would like to replace aging radios, lights and sirens.

“In the current Sheriff’s Office fleet, we have over 20 vehicles with 100,000 miles, three with over 150,000 miles. These vehicles (…) pose a danger to the deputies who drive them and to the public served by these deputies,” said a statement to commissioners. “Without the purchase of some new patrol units, the quality of service provided to the citizens of Limestone County for the past 30 years will begin to decline.”

District 2 Commissioner Steve Turner asked Blakely about the possibility of the department purchasing used low-mile vehicles. The sheriff said he wasn’t opposed to used cars but added finding vehicles with 20,000 miles or less is rare because they aren’t on the market for long.

Elsewhere, Blakely and Sloss requested upgrading several employees, including receptionist Tina Stark from a Grade 4 to Grade 6. Sloss said Stark answers “hundreds of calls” each day and described her position as “mission essential.”

The men also requested four Grade 9 deputy positions be reclassified to Grade 10 to create four sergeant positions for patrol. Blakely said it would provide an added layer of supervision in the absence of a patrol lieutenant.

A request was also made to upgrade four corrections officer positions from Grade 7 to Grade 8 to create four corporal positions. As with the patrol request, Blakely told commissioners it would provide an extra layer of authority if a supervisor is out.

Other requests included $38,396 in leases and computer equipment, $11,306.58 in software, $17,500 in data processing equipment and $25,000 for a new pole camera. Sloss told commissioners the camera is used for surveillance in undercover operations.

The department’s total appropriation request for 2017-2018 is $4.782 million. That amount is $78,899.95 over current year.

On the jail side, Blakely and Sloss submitted a request of $4.777 million, or $116,664.84 over current year. Big-ticket requests included $45,000 for new control relays on cell doors. Blakely told commissioners if the relays malfunction, doors have to be opened with a key. Spending extra time to manually open the doors could be a liability in case of fire or another emergency, he said.

Sloss also asked the commission to consider starting a public works fund for the jail so more expensive items could be replaced gradually over time. He explained the kitchen is facing $36,000 in equipment expenses. One of the jail’s two industrial washing machines is also in need of major repairs. Sloss told commissioners it would cost about $11,500 to purchase and install a new model.

Other requests include signing a $4,100 contract with Global Fire Sprinklers LLC to maintain the jail’s fire suppression and alarm systems. Officials also requested $5,500 for eight new cameras to increase visibility in the jail.

The animal control budget increased only slightly from prior year ($5,909.18). The courthouse security budget request is $16,821.29 more than the current fiscal year.

The budgets for the Sheriff’s Office, Limestone County Jail, courthouse security, animal control and work release are the biggest approved each year by the commission. They comprise nearly 67 percent of the county’s total spending in terms of departments.

Department requests

Commissioners also heard budget requests from the following departments Monday:

• Revenue: Limestone County Revenue Commissioner G. Brian Patterson submitted a request of $741,718, or $24,161 more than the current year. His appraisal department budget request is $1.23 million, or $6,101.16 more than current year. Patterson requested additional funds for new computers, software and phones. On an unrelated note, Patterson reported 852 new parcels were added in the county this year. He reported 529 new parcels one year ago.

• Emergency management: EMA Director Rita White submitted an appropriation request of $325,928.58, or $70,668.58 over current year. White told commissioners $58,000 would be used to make repairs to the front of the EMA’s operations building on West Market Street. Utilizing a mix of county funds and TVA-in-lieu-of-tax money, the EMA would like to build an interior staircase that would enable them to access the second floor without going outside.

• Archives: In the absence of Archivist Rebekah Davis, county finance director Emily Ezzell presented the Limestone County Archives appropriation request of $163,921.04, which is $17,531.16 less than current year.

• Recycling: Athens-Limestone Recycling Center manager Ruby McCartney requested level funding of $39,060;

• Coroner: Limestone County Coroner Mike West submitted a request of $86,601.26, or $4,500 more than current year;

• Council on Aging: Limestone County Council on Aging Director Susan McGrady submitted a budget of $868,360 or $37,000 more than current year. Among her requests are $10,000 for a vehicle that would be used by the COA and its meals on wheels program.

• Engineering: Assistant county engineer Marc Massey sought an appropriation of $1.588 million, or $234,650 more than current year. Among big-ticket requests are a new compact truck loader, which will cost an estimated $130,000.

Agency requests

The commission also invited several local nonprofit groups to present appropriation requests. Those included:

• Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful: Executive Coordinator Lynne Heart asked for $17,000, despite having been cut to $8,000 in fiscal year 2016-2017. She also requested the commission consider funding half the cost of hazardous waste collection day;

• Athens-Limestone County Tourism: Director Teresa Todd asked the commission restore her funding to the 2015-2016 level of $87,000;

• Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama: Executive Director Lisa Coleman requested $60,000, though the county provided only $25,000 last year. She told commissioners the agency served 412 citizens in the past year;

• Children’s Advocacy Center: Director Becky Bentley sought level funding of $20,000. She told commissioners the money her agency receives is then used to apply for larger grants. She explained the CAC will receive a $195,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs this year and has also received a $48,000 grant from the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama. She explained that grant was used to send a caseworker into county schools to work with students in grade K-8 and offer age-appropriate education on topics like online bullying and sexting. Lastly, Bentley said the Steelcase Foundation provided a $43,000 grant that is used for short-term trauma-based counseling.