New vehicle use policy is adopted by county commission in meeting

Mississippi County News

CHARLESTON - Mississippi County commissioners adopted a new county vehicle use policy during their regular session Thursday.

The county had a vehicle policy in effect, "but it was not nearly as comprehensive as this one," said Junior DeLay, county clerk. "We used a model from MOPERM, who provides our liability insurance coverage."

The new policy lists qualifications to operate county vehicles, defines preventable accidents, prohibits personal use and includes instructions on what to do in the event of an accident or theft among other things.

To be eligible to use county vehicles, operators will be required to sign a statement indicating they have read and will abide by the conditions set by the county.

The old policy was adopted when the county first purchased sheriff's department vehicles and was limited to that department, according to DeLay. County vehicles are now also used by the county highway department.

DeLay said the idea for an updated vehicle use policy was presented during a MOPERM members meeting he attended a few months ago.

In other action Thursday:

* An updated set of bylaws for the Mississippi County Senior Citizen Advisory Council was approved by commissioners.

* The county treasurer reported sales tax received by the county so far this year is down 7 percent as compared with last year at this time, or about $72,000.

The budget anticipated a reduction of $130,000 in sales tax revenue for this year.

Commissioners also said the truck stop, Sunshine Travel Center, the county's third-highest sales tax revenue generator last year, will be reopening soon.