COLUMBIANA – The release of more than $300,000 from the Shelby County Commission to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will allow for the purchase of new vehicles.

With a recommendation from the Finance Committee, the Commission voted unanimously at its March 13 meeting to release the funds, totaling $342,692.54.

A total of $600,000 from the county’s General Fund Reserves was earmarked for the purchase of vehicles and related accessories in the county’s operating budget.

Sheriff John Samaniego said some of the earmarked funds were spent soon after the adoption of the budget for the fiscal year beginning in October 2016, but the budget called for the balance to be held by the county pending review of SCSO spending.

“The Shelby County Commission has now reviewed the first four months of operations for Fiscal Year 2017 and found that actual expenditures are within the adopted budget amounts,” reads the resolution approved by the Commission.

Samaniego said his office also contributed $300,000 of its discretionary funds toward the purchase of vehicles and accessories.

Five 2017 Chevrolet Tahoes available at favorable pricing will be purchased with the newly-released funds, Samaniego said.

Once equipment needed for law enforcement use is figured in at about $11,000 per vehicle, each vehicle will cost $40,000-$42,000, he said.

The vehicles will be purchased from Donohoo Chevrolet in Fort Payne, which holds the state bid.

The vehicles will not exhaust the newly-released funds. Samaniego said he has yet to determine what the remaining money will be used for.

SCSO utilizes more than 150 vehicles, Samaniego said, including a reserve of 10 percent of the total number that must be maintained in case any of the vehicles in service breaks down.

“The Sheriff’s Office really appreciates the cooperation of the County Commission in working together to make sure our deputies are outfitted with the proper equipment to serve the citizens of Shelby County,” Samaniego said.

In other business, the Commission:

•Reappointed James E. Davis and Ken Wilder to the Shelby County Planning Commission, and appointed Samuetta Nesbitt to the seat formerly held by Rachel Garrett. The current terms for all three were set to expire on April 1, and the new terms will last until April 1, 2023.

•Awarded a bid for Shelby County Jail inmate footwear to the lowest overall bidder: Bob Barker.

•Awarded a bid for jail linens to the lowest overall bidder, Bob Barker, with the exception of clear box cell organizer, which went to Brooke Supplies after the sample provided by Bob Barker did not meet the bid specifications.