Sheriff's Tire Purchases Over the Last Three Years

[XLFD]

   I sent a FOIA to the sheriff's office to get their tire purchases over the last 3.5 years (during Sheriff Fiers tenure, because it seems to have arose as a problem between the Sheriff partisans).  I am no tire expert, so I will allow some of our resident tire experts argue about whether these tires are acceptable for the sheriff's road patrol.

 Tire Purchases Last Few Years

[XLFD]

Good point, Eastwick; all the tires were brought from Ginman Tires in Muskegon.  Perhaps a campaign issue for the Cole campaign would be that they would buy the tires locally.

[AQUAMAN]

Hmmm, didn't you X just ask for this info. this week? Seems very comprehensive and quick for any agency to answer, and with written valid receipts. Looks like the opponent is stretching the truth again, about the urgency for great tires, when all I see is revolving purchases of new high priced quality tires right along, all costly compared to our civilian tires too imho. Of course we should also consider the discount such agencies get, and that means a lot of these tires probably retail for about $200+ each, that's a pretty good bargain imho.

[XLFD]

I sent the FOIA request out late Monday night and received it early Thursday afternoon, so it was a quick turnaround.  This made me think that the purchases were probably favorable to Sheriff Fier's position.  I also asked for any written policy the sheriff's department may have had for purchasing tires and other replacement parts, and didn't receive any.  Either this was an oversight, or none exists, which is probable. 

Here's a link to the Ginman's Tire Shop that they do business with.  I presume the MCSO was doing business with them even before Sheriff Fiers got the job. 

[Willy]

It seems to me that the price paid for the tires is quite reasonable especially if they are high speed tires. My only question is why not buy them here in Mason county and when someone purchases tires they usually have them installed. Were the tires shipped up here and installed by a local installer? Were the cars driven to Muskegon. I would assume it would be cheaper to have the tires delivered and installed here. Just curious.

[Sweater Cows!]

LMTA does the tire installs and I *think* the other maintanance. At least I can say for fact that they put on the brush guard push bars and the tires. And no willy they may not have them all installed at time of order. The vehicle needs to be pulled out of service to have the wheel took off which may not be ideal on cars running patrols daily.(ideal to do right when the tires arrive I mean if someone is out on the road with it)

[Sweater Cows!]

I paid $700.00 for a set of Goodyears. They are not cheap. Getting GY's for around a 100 bucks a tire, maybe they will order my next set when they do their order???(joking)

And I get dealer pricing!

Being I deal in this quite a bit I am betting they could not get those prices locally. We don't have the volume in mason co that muskegon dealers have and I doubt any of our local tire places could or would match those prices, I could be wrong but  we probably put on 20 tires a year for different vehicles.

Also on the goodyear invoices I see it says Goodyear gov't pricing, meaning goodyear itself is giving a discount to gov't. which may be something the local guys aren't signed up to do as it may take to much admin work(just guessing).

Also notice that LMTA is where the sheriff cars get there tires delivered to and they may be getting bulk pricing along with what LMTA orders.

Google the first invoice tires (235/55/r17 Goodyear) and then click 'shopping' on the left side on google. the cheapest(new not used) tire there is 104(with a shipping price of 124).

For those who are not aware, 16" and up wheel size tires are much more pricey thatn your 14 & 15 inch tires. The R17 is the tire size.

[Sweater Cows!]

Got a flat on the way to Muskegon yesterday, took me and DH less than 15 min. to change it. Surprisingly their was a State police car about 300 yards up the road facing the other way(on eway) and he never budged to come check on us, don't know if he had binoculars to see we were changing the tire or or if people called in and he got a message we were all good. Didn't take my cell with me and ended up with a flat, doesn't that just figure,lol! But what if it was somebody having a heart attack. I thought it weird he didn't come check us out and nobody stopped. Of course we knew what we were doing so maybe we didn't look like stranded motorists in need of any help.

[XLFD]

Here's the latest release from Sheriff Fiers' Facebook page: 

Today I will address the latest issue that was brought up by my opponent. This being speed rated tires on the Chevy Tahoe’s.

Approximately 10 years ago, they did not make a speed rated snow tire for Chevy Tahoe. The Union members who drove the Tahoe’s were unable to get around in the snow and ice, due to the speed rated all season tires that were being used. We were constantly getting stuck and the wrecker bill was pilling up. A former Deputy had researched tires and found a Cooper Discoverer M+S (snow and mud tire) 255/70R16 tire that were speed rated for 118mph (currently rated for 113mph). We had sent a request to the administration to use these tires. Permission was granted and we used these tires during the winter months up until 2010. We never had an issue with the tires and they worked great.

In 2010 I purchased new Cooper Discoverer tires and had them installed like years past. One winter morning, I was approached by the Un
ion Steward (my opponent), questioning me about these tires. It was indicated they were not speed rated for emergency vehicles and there was a new Nokian speed rated tire on the market that was rated for emergency vehicles speeds. I had asked him why I would want to switch to a tire we know nothing about, when the tires we were currently using have been time tested by myself (when I was a Road Deputy) and 3 other Deputies. We had no issues with them. I also indicated there was no reasons for a Deputy to be driving anywhere near the speeds of 118mph during the winter months. A grievance was then threatened if I did not purchase the Nokian tires.

I admit I did get mad and did indicate I would write a policy limiting the speeds the Deputies could drive, but I did not do this. I researched the Nokian tires and found they had very good reviews for both summer and winter driving. I then purchased one set of tires and had a SGT who drove a Tahoe test them out. I got good reviews from the SGT on these tires. I then purchased the Nokian tires for the rest of the road patrol fleet of Tahoe’s. We are currently using these tires year round. This actually worked out for the best. Now we do not have to deal with two sets of tires.

The Cooper Discoverer’s were kept, due to them being new and very little miles on them. These tires are currently being used on my department vehicle as well as my Undersheriff and Chief Deputies vehicles.

Thank you,

Jeff Fiers
Mason County Sheriff