JACKSON — After much discussion, Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved a request for a new emergency management vehicle.

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At their Nov. 2 meeting, Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Byers came before the board with the request for a new vehicle.

Byers requested and received three bids from different dealerships — White’s Chevrolet Cadillac at $34,800, LBJ Chevrolet of Rocky Mount, $34,811 and Sir Walter Chevrolet of Raleigh, $34,820. None of these include sales tax.

Byers recommended accepting the bid from White’s Chevrolet-Cadillac for the 2010 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS CK10906 because the bid was cheaper than the other two and since White’s is local it would be more convenient for any warranty work that might be needed.

Commissioner Virginia Spruill asked if the current vehicle is still in use.

The 2004 Ford Explorer has about 74,000 miles on it. Byers said it can no longer carry all of the equipment needed plus being able to tow the Red Cross trailer.

Spruill wanted to know what would happen to the current vehicle. “It would be assigned to the Emergency Medical Services department,” he said.

The Northampton County Emergency Medical assistant director lives at the west end of the county and takes calls there.

Byers said the county has had two Red Cross trailers for about four months but haven’t used them yet. One of the reasons Byers brought the request before the board was because the $50,000 piece of equipment he had was needed on most scenes. If the equipment is in the current vehicle there is no room for other equipment.

Spruill pointed out that 2010 vehicle was very expensive with ON Star and aluminum wheels. “It’s the Cadillac of trucks,” she said.

Byers said the good thing about ON Star was the satellite communication. He reminded them about during Hurricane Isabel, when the regular phones were done.

Commissioner the Rev. James Hester asked about the difference between high end LS version versus a commercial version.

Byers said the commercial version has less options.

Vice Chairwoman Fannie P. Greene asked about the finances for the vehicle.

Finance Director Dot Vick said while the vehicle was in the capital outlay plan, there was no funding with it.

Once approved by the board, Vick would do competitive bids to see what bank would have the lowest interest rate.

Spruill said, “These loans bother me.”

Greene wanted to know if there was a need for the vehicle.

Byers noted the request was to be made last year, but was not submitted due to budget restraints. “I feel there is a need,” he said.

County Manager Wayne Jenkins stressed to the board that last year, the county didn’t have access to the Red Cross trailers with cots and generators inside. “We didn’t have these assets last year,” he said.

Jenkins added when Byers came to him last year, an immediate need was not demonstrated.

Spruill asked about the possibility of a used vehicle.

Jenkins said the county purchases vehicles in the long-term. An example, he used was the public works where there are vehicles with 200,000 miles.

Greene was concerned with the fact that the last four or five months that equipment was not needed. “How often will need the vehicle?” she said.

Byers pointed out while the towing hasn’t been needed, the vehicle would be used. When he was in Severn for two months because of the peanut fire, he said he ran back and forth to gather equipment.

“This vehicle would assure me the equipment would be in the vehicle 24/7,” he said.

Hester said they couldn’t  predict disaster. “We need to be ready for disaster,” he said.

Commissioner Chairman Robert V. Carter said he knew the board members were trying to be frugal.

“We never know when there will be a catastrophe or disaster,” he said. “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

Hester agreed by saying the county has had tornadoes and hurricanes. He talked about the recent weather with Hurricane Ida.

“That’s behind my motion,” he said. “Let’s get prepared.”