Over the past two years both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board have discussed issues of concern about the need to replace vehicles, the maintenance costs for vehicles, and the inadequate maintenance facility. These are important public safety and budget issues which warrant additional attention and long term financial planning by our governing bodies and the public.
This is EssexSunshine.Org's (ESO) first look at the broad topic of Essex County Vehicles. Therefore, we believe that it's necessary to establish preliminary common. The definitions are solely ours and we welcome any advice or corrections from County, School Administrations, the Sheriff's Department, and the other stakeholders such as the Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, the Airport Authority, and other agencies which have and operate county vehicles and equipment. We have not included the Town of Tappahannock vehicles in this review.
DEFINITIONS:
County Vehicles – all licensed motor vehicles owned by Essex County. This include all passenger vehicles, maintenance trucks of all sizes, Sheriff's Department vehicles, school busses, vans, and passenger vehicles, and any county owned vehicles not otherwise classified. Additionally, any EMS vehicles in direct support of Essex County and all Volunteer Fire Department vehicles in direct support of Essex County are included in the general category of "County Vehicles."
County Motorized Equipment – all motorized equipment not intended to carry passengers nor licensed by the state. This includes but is not limited to backhoes, bucket loaders, large "trailer" generators, trailer air compressors, fork lifts, tractors, large commercial duty mowers, trailers used in conjunction maintenance vehicles, etc.
County Vehicle and Motorized Equipment Inventory – a complete list, available to the public, of all vehicles and equipment which supports the emergency services and routine operations of county government and schools for the citizens of Essex County. The inventory should, as a minimum identify each vehicle and item of equipment by type, manufacturer, date of purchase (new or used), original cost, projected end of service life, current condition, and the Departments which are responsible for each vehicle and item of equipment.
Mission Capable – vehicles and equipment which is fully capable of performing all designed functions in any weather conditions and all safety systems and features are fully operational.
Limited Mission Capable – vehicles and equipment which cannot perform all designed functions in any weather conditions but all safety systems and features are fully operational. Some repairs, replacement of part(s), or modification(s) are required.
Not Mission Capable – vehicles and equipment which cannot perform its major design purpose(s) safely or efficiently. Any vehicle or equipment with any safety system or feature which requires service or repair. Any equipment needing major service, repair, or replacement parts. Vehicles or motorized equipment which cannot be certified when required.
Service Life – service life is the projected safe and productive expectation of service for each specific type of vehicle and item of motorized equipment. It is typically measured in miles driven, hours of operation, or economic life (period in which parts remain available and costs of maintenance and repairs are not excessive). Those measures represent the best possible estimates of when vehicles or items of equipment should be included in the Future Capital Expenditure Planning Budget for replacement. Does the County have a Future Capital Expenditure Plan?
Service Support – the technicians, facility, tools, parts inventory, and supplies necessary to properly perform operator maintenance, higher level scheduled maintenance, repairs, and necessary modifications and replacement of systems.
BACKGROUND: Over the past two years a number of Board of Supervisors discussions about the Sheriff's Department patrol cars have taken place. The School Board has had similar discussions about the aging fleet of school buses. Those discussions have left us with an impression that the County Government, the School System, the various departments, and perhaps the emergency services agencies do not have comprehensive plans, policies, and procedures which address the administration, operation, maintenance, replacement, and disposal of vehicles and motorized equipment. Additionally, we have not found that lifecycle costs for vehicles and motorized equipment have been developed or identified.
Further, the county has not published any recent analysis or studies which evaluate the types of vehicles and motorized equipment which are needed, the numbers of each type which are needed, or the overall condition of the fleet of vehicles and equipment currently owned by local government and the supporting organizations.
Lastly, it appears that a number of Board discussions have suggested that the current maintenance facility is grossly inadequate to provide a full range of preventative maintenance and repair support for the county. Additionally, the number of technicians and the adequacy of their ongoing technical training should be evaluated.
PUBLIC SAFETY: This is a primary responsibility of local government. Transportation of children on school busses, the daily patrols, investigations, and emergency response of law enforcement personnel, the response of fire and rescue professionals, and the routine travel and service duties of our county employees requires safe fully and capable vehicles and equipment. Recommended:
1. That the County request a study of Essex County's Current Emergency Services Capabilities and Recommendations for Procedures, Staffing, Equipment and Training by the Virginia Fire Services Board as authorized by the Code of Virginia § 9.1-203.A.4.
2. That the Sheriff request a study of Essex County Law Enforcement Capabilities and Recommendations for Procedures, Staffing, Equipment and Training by the from the appropriate Law Enforcement body similar to the Virginia Fire Services Board.
3. That the County Administration, the Essex Public Schools Administration, the Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Volunteer Fire Department develop and publish and maintain on-line a comprehensive inventory of Essex County vehicles and motorized equipment.
BUDGET: Annual Budget Development and planning for Capital Expenditures needs accurate data on future requirements available at the start of each budget cycle. Incremental budgeting, which bases future funding upon past budget requests, has been the normal practice with a few exceptions. In our view, the data necessary to develop a comprehensive needs based budget is not available to either the county leadership or to the public concerning county owned or county supporting (fire and rescue) vehicles. Newer vehicles require less initial maintenance and repair, are usually safer, and are usually more fuel efficient. Newer vehicle will reduce operations and maintenance expenses BUT will require substantial capital expenditures for their acquisition. Therefore, the need for accurate data becomes critical when developing a County Budget that will represent the best possible compromise for Public Safety, efficient provision of services and support to the public, and the limited funding available from federal and state programs and local tax revenues.
ESO urges the County Administration, the Essex Public Schools, the Sheriff's Department, and the Emergency Services providers to collaborate on establishing a vehicle and motorized equipment inventory which will be easily accessible to the public. We also strongly recommend the use of "no cost" consulting services, described in the Public Safety paragraph, to gain objective and independent professional recommendations for consideration in future planning and budget development.
John Clickener - Publisher
No comments:
Post a Comment