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TO: Board of County DATE: July 5, 1988 FILE: Commissioners SUBJECT: SURPLUS FOOD DISTRIBUTION - REQUEST FOR USE OF COUNTY VEHICLE/DRIVER FROM: Charles P. Balczun REFERENCES: County Administrator BACKGROUND The local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post participates in the distribution of surplus federal commodities to the needy. Essentially, on a once monthly basis, members utilize their private vehicles to transport commodities from the break -bulk facility in Gifford to the VFW Post in Vero Beach^ from which it is then distributed. Transportation of the foodstuffs not only causes wear and tear on these privately owned vehicles, it also causes the process to be unnecessarily cumbersome since the vehicles are relatively small and not configured for this purpose. Consequently, we have been requested to provide one truck and one driver once monthly for approximately two hours for the purpose of transporting the surplus commodities. The VFW would continue to provide volunteer labor. ANALYSIS The County has an appropriately designed vehicle which would be suitable for this purpose and is able to make a driver available. The cost of doing so would be nominal, particularly in view of the fact that absent volunteer participation, the responsibility would otherwise be placed on the County together with attendant program administration and overhead. Mr. Vitunac has reviewed this matter and believes such participation can legitimately be defined to be within the 'public purpose' scope as provided by law. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners 1. Declare that provision of a truck and driver would result in the public deriving a benefit. 2. Declare that the County could otherwise provide the surplus commodity distribution itself. 3. Authorize staff to provide a vehicle and driver as proposed. 'JL 5 1988 57 Bou E 19 7