Aug 24, 2009 -
Premium Service
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina sheriff's office has paid more than $1 million to a local auto repair shop for service and maintenance despite the fact that the county has its own fleet service department.
The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported Sunday that the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office does not have a contract with the shop, and Sheriff Chuck Wright did not seek bids for the work as required by the county's procurement code.
Wright said he sent the department's vehicles to an outside vendor because the county maintenance shop isn't equipped to handle the high volume.
Wright said he follows the county's procurement policy, but said he thought it was just a suggestion. Later, Wright consulted the S.C. Sheriff's Association and determined that he should comply with the policy.
Right, it's not a policy. More like a guideline.
