What happened: During the Midland County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, commissioners rejected Sheriff David Criner’s request to allow the Sheriff’s Office to keep an existing county-owned vehicle for two evidence technicians who currently use their personal cars for work-related duties. The court voted 3–2 against the request, with Commissioners Charles Hall, Steven Villela, and Dianne Anderson voting no.

County staff explained that the crime scene department, which includes the evidence technicians, had to turn in two older vehicles to the county fleet. The department asked to turn in one vehicle as required and keep the second vehicle for use by the evidence technicians, who regularly transport property and evidence between the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, and other locations.

The big picture: Hall said he wanted both older vehicles placed in the county’s spare fleet at the county barn, noting that technicians could still access them. Criner responded that requiring the technicians to retrieve a vehicle from the barn would be inconvenient, given that they transport evidence nearly every workday.

Anderson said the employees should submit mileage reimbursement forms instead. Judge Terry Johnson said many employees avoid mileage reimbursement because of the difficult involved. Villela asked clarification questions but did not state a specific reason for opposing the request before voting no.

What they’re saying:

“Sheriff, you don’t have to sell me on this for sure. I promise you that. You’re the sheriff of Midland County,” Commissioner Jeff Sommers said during the exchange. “If you need a car and you ask for it, in my opinion, you should get it.”

After a motion from Sommers and a second from Johnson, Hall, Anderson, and Villela voted against the request. Following the vote, Judge Terry Johnson said, “That [vote] makes no sense to me.” Villela responded, “Well, you know, we are supposed to manage the budget, judge.”

“That’s not managing the budget,” Johnson replied. “So, I don’t know where we won. I don’t know where we managed people’s money.”

The bottom line: The request did not involve purchasing a new vehicle or additional spending. It involved whether the crime scene department could retain one existing county-owned vehicle for evidence technicians to use instead of placing it in the county’s shared spare fleet.