Nov. 21—The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors on Tuesday agreed to provide $150,000 for two vehicles for the Yuba County Sheriff's Office for patrols around the agency's facilities in the foothills.
According to officials with the water agency, it is a requirement under its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License to provide security of its Yuba River Development Project, which includes New Bullards Bar Reservoir, Our House and Log Cabin diversion dams, and several powerhouses on the Yuba River. The Yuba County Sheriff's Office provides that security.
"We've partnered with the Yuba County Sheriff's Department for several years to ensure there are adequate resources to patrol our facilities," Terri Daly, Yuba Water's assistant general manager, said in a statement after Tuesday's vote. "This includes paying for the services of two deputies to patrol the reservoir and, when necessary, equipment to make sure the Sheriff can respond quickly in case of an emergency or other incident."
Bonnie Dickson, senior public information officer for Yuba Water, said the agency had a "verbal agreement" with the sheriff's office to supplement a current contract that Yuba Water has with the sheriff's office by $150,000 for the two vehicles, but the purchase amount was not in the agency's June budget.
Dickson said because it was not in the budget, directors on Tuesday needed to approve the payment.
"The Sheriff is aware that our board may not approve this supplement to the contract, and he is prepared to handle the cost of the vehicles in another way if needed," Dickson said in an email to the Appeal prior to the board's vote. "Since these vehicles will be used to provide security to New Bullards Bar and other agency facilities, we are recommending approval of the cost."
According to an invoice for the vehicles, two 2022 Ford Expeditions from Geweke Ford in Yuba City were each priced at $37,711 with a $1,940 maintenance plan added for each vehicle. In total, each vehicle with its maintenance plan was priced at $42,770.91.
The vehicles, several pieces of equipment, graphics and other related labor added to the $150,000 total cost.