By Linda Dean Cooper

The practice of providing take-home vehicles to select employees in Levy County has raised concerns among residents regarding the associated costs and oversight. The public’s concerns have been ignored by the previous County Commissioners and recently ousted County Coordinator Wilbur Dean.  Taxpayers have been paying the tab for select employees to commute to and from work.

Twenty-Year-Old Take-Home Vehicle Policy

An antiquated August 2004 Personnel Policy titled Automobile Usage #402, states, “Authorization to drive vehicle to and from home on a long-term basis must be granted by the County Coordinator.” That excerpt is from a 20-year-old personnel policy used by the ousted County Coordinator Dean. Hopefully, with our new county manager and two new commissioners, more accountability is on the horizon.

On August 29, 2024, the BoCC selected Mary-Ellen Harper as the County’s first County Manager to run our new form of county government. In November the people elected two new commissioners, Charlie Kennedy and Johnny Heirs to complete the transformation.

If No Fleet Manager – Who’s Responsible?

Without a fleet manager to track fuel usage, mileage, maintenance records, vehicle replacement, surplus, insurance costs, and GPS on county vehicles how are costs and risks assessed for budget, safety, and insurance purposes?  How does the county track fuel usage per vehicle, diesel for equipment, and maintenance costs?  Take-home vehicles should provide a benefit to the public, not just the employee.

Time to Hire a Fleet Manager?

Implementing a fleet manager could enhance accountability and efficiency. Responsibilities of a fleet manager typically include:

• Overseeing vehicle acquisition, maintenance, and disposal.
• Managing maintenance schedules and ensuring vehicle safety compliance.
• Maintaining detailed service and repair records.
• Monitoring fuel usage and implementing cost-control measures.
• Supervising mechanic staff and coordinating training.

Establishing such a position could lead to better resource management and potential cost savings for the county.

36 Employees From 11 Departments Have Take-Home Vehicle Privileges

The County provided an employee list after a public records request for take-home vehicles and policies. There are 36 employees, in 11 departments. Those employees commute to work every day on your taxpayer dime. Four of them live in other counties.  Every taxpayer needs to read that spreadsheet and note the county vehicle chart footnote indicates other employees have take-home vehicles when on call only. That footnote implies all the employees on the list are not on call but have a take-home vehicle, but it is not clearly stated on the spreadsheet.

Snapshot of Some Employees/Depts. With Take-Home Vehicle Privileges

• Why are four Landfill/Solid Waste employees allowed to drive heavy-duty trucks home?
• Why are ten Road Department employees allowed take-home trucks, some equipped with 100-gallon diesel transfer tanks in truck beds? How is diesel fuel accounted for in the transfer fuel tanks in the take-home road department trucks?
• Why are six Construction Maintenance employees allowed take-home trucks? Look at the list of gas-guzzling full-size 2003-2024 trucks.
• Why does Director of Public Safety, Mitch Harrel allowed to drive a 2015 Tahoe 60 miles round trip to Gilchrist County?
• Why is Richard Rogers, Assistant Director of Emergency Management allowed to drive a 2024 Ford Explorer 85 miles round trip to Citrus County?

See the spreadsheet below for a complete list of employees, job titles, miles home to work, county of residence, unit ID#, year, make, and vehicle model used as their take-home vehicle

Budget preparation for FY25-26 starts in the next few months.  Hopefully, the new BoCC and County Manager Harper will address citizens’ concerns about a fiscally responsible government.

———————–

Posted December 30, 2024