County Manager Cal Markert could have a new link in his chain of command if the Jefferson County Commission passes a resolution on Thursday’s meeting agenda creating a separate Department of Fleet Management.

Well, it’s not exactly new.

“It’s kind of misleading to say we’re creating a Fleet Department,” Markert said. “We already had a Fleet Department. They just reside in the Roads and Transportation Department. Since they serve the Sewer Department, General Services, all the departments, we think it’s more appropriate for them to be standing alone.

“We can matriculate all the departments’ fleet needs and programs as a whole a little bit better.”

With the Fleet Department under the roads and transportation umbrella, there was potential for the Roads and Transportation Department to step to the front of the line if it and other departments needed vehicle repairs.

“If roads and trans needs something fixed and ESD (Environmental Services) needs something fixed, who do you think is going to get the nod every single time to go first?” Markert said. “We’re trying to make sure we can service and minimize downtime for all of our workers and make sure we’re getting the best operational cost for our fleet.”

The county manager said the move could create greater efficiency.

“We’ve got a really good, talented leader,” he said of Charles Tyler. “(We) are looking forward to getting him set up, giving us ideas to save some more money. He’ll just be his own department under the deputy county manager of infrastructure.”

The deputy county manager of infrastructure is Heather Carter, who began her career with Jefferson County as the director of Roads and Transportation.

While Tyler will now lead a separate department – and receive a raise as a department head – he’ll do so where he’s always worked.

“They’ve got a big ole shop and his office is on Vanderbilt (Road),” Markert said. “That’s not going to change. Nothing’s going to change except for on paper and who he reports to. That way he can make sure that priorities are evened out throughout the whole county.”

Among other things, Thursday’s agenda includes resolutions to extension a pair of Emergency Rental Assistance Programs No. 2 (ERAP 2). The Bridge Ministries and Salvation Army rental assistance programs were extended to July 10 of this year.

The modification is to mandate that any funds relating to the

Contract will expire if unobligated or unexpended by July 10. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain the same and no additional funds were requested.