CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
Nueces County commissioners is looking to save money by returning two refrigerated trailers meant to help during a mass-casualty event to their owner.
The Nueces County Medical Examiner's office recommended approval from commissioners court to return the trailers to the Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Council, also known as "CBRAC," saying they can no longer be used for their intended purpose because they don't cool properly.
"Despite our best efforts to get them ready in advance of the hurricane season, neither are currently operational," said Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office Director of Operations Forrest Mitchell during Tuesday's specially-called meeting.
CBRAC gave the trailers -- which Mitchell said he has priced at around $140,000 -- to the county at no cost in 2013. The only financial responsibility attached would be making repairs to the units when necessary.
The trailers were nearly 20 years old when the medical examiner's office received them, and, more than 10 years later, require constant repairs which staff said cost between $6,000-$7,000 each time something breaks.
“We were spending so much money in trying to keep them functioning and working, and now it is just costing more to keep them than is necessary,” Nueces County Judge Connie Scott said.
Instead of spending county funds on those repairs, the medical examiners office is looking to enter into contracts with local funeral homes for emergency storage until the new facility is built.
“The new facility that we broke ground on last month will have actually two coolers, which will have extended capacity, and so I think in the future we won't need these as well,” Mitchell said.