WINTON – The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office got much needed help Monday night.

Sheriff Juan Vaughan came before the Hertford County Board of Commissioners to request an upgrade in the department’s radio communication and help with replacement of a vehicle.

The sheriff first asked the board to help with an additional $20,000 to replace a car that was involved in an accident in January.

According to information provided by Sheriff Vaughan, a Hertford County vehicle operated by Deputy Levar Newsome was struck by a truck on January 31.

Farm Bureau Insurance issued the sheriff’s office a check for $10,900 on the 2004 Ford that was totaled. The cost for a replacement vehicle was listed at $30,387.42.

Commissioner Johnnie R. Farmer asked if the sheriff needed the vehicle right away.

“Yesterday, to be honest,” Vaughan replied.

Commissioner John Pierce moved to provide the funds and allow the sheriff to purchase the vehicle with Farmer offering a second. The motion passed without objection.

Vaughan also asked to upgrade 14 radios so the department could switch frequencies to one that was better. According to the sheriff, the current radio band is owned by Wake County and overlapping occurs. There is also considerable trouble hearing deputies in certain areas of the county.

“We haven’t had a situation when this endangered someone, but we want to make sure that we don’t,” he told the board.

The sheriff asked for 14 radios at a total cost of $12,600. Pierce again made the motion with Farmer again offering a second. That motion too passed unanimously.

In other business, the board:

* approved the sale of two pieces of property;

* appointed Andre Lassiter to the Mid-East Commission board;

* endorsed a resolution to merge Roanoke-Chowan Human Services into Eastern Carolina Behavioral Health;

* heard a report from A.W. Roper of the North Carolina Department of Transportation;

* held a closed session to consult with County Attorney Charles Revelle and discuss personnel matters; and

* heard an update from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners from Commissioner Dupont L. Davis.