BLUE EARTH– The first meeting of the month for the Faribault County Board of Commissioners was held on Tuesday with very few items on the agenda which led to a shorter than usual meeting.

Sheriff Scott Adams and deputy sheriff Chris Albers were at the meeting with two items for the board’s consideration.

“The Faribault County Sheriff’s Office has budgeted for three squad car purchases for the 2025 budget year,” Adams said. “Through the bid process we obtained bids from the state bid dealership and out of state dealerships.”

Albers then presented a proposal to purchase one 2025 Police Interceptor Utility vehicle at the price of $44,143 (plus taxes and fees as they apply).

“The dealer is Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny, Iowa,” Albers noted. “Their bid was less than the one from the state bid dealership.”

Adams shared that the department had waited to purchase a vehicle until now with the expectation that prices might decrease.

“A vehicle like this (Ford Explorer) was priced at $51,000 at the beginning of the year,” Adams commented. “So it has come down just about $7,000.”

Adams also told the commissioners that the Sheriff’s Department will be selling three used squads during 2025 for an estimated $55,000.

“This will help offset the new squad purchases,” he stated.

The purchase was approved. The new Ford Explorer will be used for the K9 unit.

While at the meeting Adams also sought, and received, approval to accept the ATV Grant.

“We have to use the grant dollars or we will lose them,” Adams said. “We have decided to use the money to help us trade our 2017 side-by-side for a new 2025 model. This is a crew-cab model.”

In other business, the board:

— Voted to approve a solid waste hauler license for DFM Dumpsters.

— Approved the training requests of Erin Beske and Marissa Spencer of the Sheriff’s Department. Beske will be taking advanced data practices training and Spencer will be working on her PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) certification.