5 Comments to 'Setting a bad example?'
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Setting a bad example?
Posted By katie allison granju
Larry Van Guilder questions whether Knox County employees really need to be driving SUVs , particularly brand new SUVs:
Meanwhile, the mayor and two of his senior staffers drive SUVs, the property assessor’s office is requesting a new four-wheel drive Ford Explorer and public works director Bruce Wuethrich asserts that four-wheel drive vehicles are required in his department because his employees visit construction sites. Chevy Tahoes and Explorers also appear on a list of vehicles in the sheriff’s office.
Horrible fuel economy aside, it’s just about impossible to frame a rational argument for the need for four-wheel drive vehicles south of Canada. A couple of emergency vehicles? Maybe, but certainly not for widespread use.
What do you think? Should SUVs be phased out of the county’s fleet by attrition? And which county jobs legitimately require a four-wheel drive SUV?
Jun 9th, 2008
Ford makes some good front wheel drive cars like the Taurus and the Focus that get great gas mileage. It makes no sense to purchase SUV’s with the taxpayers money.
It’s been some time since Ford’s made the Taurus.
But I’m not really clear on your point anyway.
Whoa !!!! Katie and number 9 let me tell you a little story March 93 Blizzard strikesKnoxville, Rual Metro pulls thier Ambulances off the roads (A private co Aint going to risk thier profits by wrecking thier Equipment They said it was not safe for the pts. But I say they were not prepard )
I believe the Army reserve pitch in with hummers with r/m medics but who is to say the army want be deployed next time a emergency hits. The Knoxville fire Dept was taking people to the Er’s in fire trucks and four wheel drive SUV’s. The police Dept were able to function also with thier 4WD the service dept was also busy moving equipment keeping the city safe and funtioning. I believe the city needs at least 50 to 60 SUV type vehicles for emergencies not only blizzards but earthquakes, tornado’s. riots are even terriost actions to name a few . With the FIre Dept, Police, service dept geting the bulk of these Vehicles and one are two for the Mayor and his staff. If we don’t have them because someone thinks they are to expensive or not “green” enough. These are the very same people that would line up and scream the loudest about us not being prepared.
The Taurus is back:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/
The safest car in America…
“Bruce Wuethrich asserts that four-wheel drive vehicles are required in his department because his employees visit construction sites.”
Hmmm, I’m a real estate broker and I visit construction sites too as does my partner. I drive a Toyota Prius and my partner drives a Mercedes. We get around just fine at constructions sites with both vehicles.
We’re both willing to give Bruce’s employees a ride if it will save the county some money.
That “we need 4 wheel drive vehicles” is bogus.