Ford City Votes for New Police Cruiser
This 1998 police cruiser was purchased by Ford City Borough in 2014, but another might soon join the fleet if the price is right. (KP File Photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
A year-long discussion is nearing its end in Ford City Borough regarding a police matter.
Council members unanimously voted 5-0 to purchase a police cruiser for the full-time department. Councilman Gene Banks was absent from the last special meeting.
Borough Manager Eden Ratliff said the cruiser cannot cost more than $19,099 without being bid out.
Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos – who motioned to authorize the purchase – said he has about a half-dozen offers to buy a police car, but the lowest cost would be about $20,700.
And that would be to pay just for the car – not to upgrade equipment.
“Remarkably, the COSTARS amount Sgt. Atherton got – which is supposed to be the state-mandated lowest – is higher than some of the (amounts) Councilman Miklos obtained,” Ratliff said.
Sgt. Atherton said during the meeting that not all cars could be optimum for police coverage.
“If you don’t get a car with a heavy-duty police package, it’s not going to stand the test of time,” Sgt. Atherton said.
Negotiations are still ongoing, but if council members are not able to bring the price down to $19,099, it will have to be bid out
In November, after a motion to purchase a police car was tabled, Miklos said with the addition of the new vehicle, one or two of the current cruisers would go out-of-service.
“We were hoping to have enough money at the end of this budget to buy the car in-full without a (tax anticipation) loan. We have the money at this point in time to purchase a car – however, if we use that money, we will have to take a tax anticipation loan (for 2015),” Miklos said.
Council also decided against taking out a tax anticipation loan after accepting a $50,000 tax anticipation loan from S&T Bank in 2014.
The newest 1998 car was purchased for $1,100, but the Borough has already had to pay $1,500 into it.
Last January, Mayor Marc Mantini advocated for a new police cruiser, citing public safety issues with the vehicles needing repairs regularly.
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By mad-2010, January 2, 2015 @ 12:35 PM
sbmworker.. Do you see my point here? Ford City has to struggle with the cost of a Police car! To have a Patrolmen riding around in 1998 patrol car is just Pitiful to me, you could probably go door to door in town and raise $1,100.00! Sad….