County marking its vehicles

BROWNSTOWN - Jackson County commissioners approved Tuesday a requirement that county-owned vehicles be marked before they're driven home.

Human resources manager Jeff Hubbard said the county has 35 vehicles, including 11 marked police cars and two marked police cars held in reserve. The sheriff's department also has four unmarked vehicles, one for the sheriff, one for the jail commander and two for lieutenants.

Of the remaining 18 county-owned vehicles, 10 are not marked and 11 are not taken home by departments using them.

The proposal to mark all county-owned vehicles that are taken home was approved by a 3-0 vote.

Commissioners also approved a two-year pact with Chris Broughton & Associates, Seymour, to develop a technology plan.

Chris Broughton said he will begin collecting data to pinpoint where savings may be found. Broughton, who estimates he can cut the county's operating cost by 17 percent, will receive a percentage of any savings he finds up to $85,000.

County council President Charlie Murphy told commissioners the council supports the idea of hiring Broughton.

Commissioners also approved a $225,000 performance bond for infrastructure improvements, including paved streets, curbs and gutters, storm drainage, signage and sanitary sewers, for section three of Poplar Cove subdivision south of Brownstown.