![[Masthead]](http://www.marshallnews.com/images/nameplate.png)
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (22)
 From left, Santa Claus receives a check from Marshall Mayor Connie Latimer, a portion of donations in food, money and Chamber Bucks made Monday, Dec. 21, to the Community Food Pantry. (Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
|
Update Monday, Jan. 4 at 10:20 a.m. On Monday, Jan. 4, Police Chief Mike Donnell said the new police cars were just a routine purchase for the department, one that was included in the annual budget. "We generally get two cars a year," he said. Donnell said the Ford Crown Victorias were approved, despite a slightly higher price tag than the Chevrolet Impalas, because they are a better deal in the long run. The police department's Crown Victorias usually last for about 120,000 to 130,000 miles, yet the Impalas are only good for 80,000 or 90,000 miles. "They're just getting to costly" to maintain, Donnell said about the latter. As an example, he said the department spent about $4,000 in 2009 on one Impala, "just to keep it on the road." Overall, Donnell said, the department spends about $25,000 on vehicle maintenance annually. And, many cars are driven 3,000 miles per month. The oldest car on the police fleet currently is a 1999 Crown Victoria, but it will soon be going "offline," Donnell said.
|
The city of Marshall is one step closer to buying a new fire truck, after action taken by the Marshall City Council at its meeting Monday evening, Dec. 21.
Council members approved a financing agreement with Government Capital Leasing, which will provide funds to pay for the new truck.
Mayor Connie Latimer said the estimated cost of the truck is $448,000, down from $525,000 after some bargaining.
"That's a whole lot better than where we started," she said.
Also covered in the financing agreement is the cost of a new citywide phone system, which will connect all city departments at any location.
In other business, the council approved two liquor licenses for Marshall Rotary Club fundraising events, one on Jan. 16 and one on April 8.
Rotarian Larry Askins was present at the meeting, asking the council to consider waiving the license fees, which are $37.50 per event.
"All of those funds that the Rotary Club raises go back into the community," he said.
The council chose to consider waiving fees at its first January meeting.
"I really don't want to get in the habit of waiving fees all the time," council member Dan Brandt said.
In committee reports, the public relations and public safety committee recommended the purchase of two Ford Crown Victorias from Elmer Hare Ford for the police department.
The cars will cost $43,976. Another bid for the cars was received -- two Chevrolet Impalas from John Rector Motors for $42,252. But, committee member Gabe Ramsey said it is more expensive to repair the Chevrolets.
"Due to the repair expense on the Impalas... ," he said, "we'd be much better off staying with the Ford."
In her report, Latimer said Marshall Memorial Aiport renovations are almost complete. This week, fuel will be deposited in the new jet fuel storage tanks at the facility.
"It's pretty impressive," Latimer said about the entire project. "They've done a nice job."
The council approved two ordinances at its meeting Monday: one concerning appropriations and one authorizing a contract with Bank Midwest.
The contract is for a Visa business credit card, carried by the chief of police. The card's limit is $2,000.
"I think it's a good idea to use that, particularly since it's controlled by a limit," City Administrator Charles Tryban said.
"That keeps someone from having to put it on their personal card," Latimer added.
Before adjourning, the council received a visit from Santa Claus, who handed out candy canes and wished all a merry Christmas.
Continuing in the Christmas spirit, Latimer presented Claus with a check for $150 plus Chamber Bucks and food items, all to be used at Community Food Pantry. The money and goods were donated by council members and city departments.
All council members were present at the meeting.
The council will meet again Monday, Jan. 4, at 5:15 p.m. in the City Office Building.
Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please ![[Order this photo]](http://marshallnews.mycapture.com/mycapture/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return%20to%20site&backurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marshallnews.com%2Fstory%2F1596785.html&thumbpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marshallnews.com%2Fphotos%2F12%2F99%2F58%2F1299588-S.jpg&previewpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marshallnews.com%2Fphotos%2F12%2F99%2F58%2F1299588-L.jpg&pricingsheetid=1511){kind=link}
the 5 year,100000 mile is good for commercial vehicles
you might check, but I don't think those 5yr/100,000 mile warranties are valid for commercial use, and I don't think you can compare a Crown Victoria to an Impala. That's like comparing a Ranger to an F-150. These folks are making the best decisions they can based on need, have a little faith
The council approved two ordinances at its meeting Monday: one concerning appropriations and one authorizing a contract with Bank Midwest.
The contract is for a Visa business credit card, carried by the chief of police. The card's limit is $2,000.
"I think it's a good idea to use that, particularly since it's controlled by a limit," City Administrator Charles Tryban said.
"That keeps someone from having to put it on their personal card," Latimer added. Why need cerdit card they have own gas fill for cars and other stuff like repairs are goverment national accounts?
The reason the cars are needed every two years and not every five or so is because they are driven tenty-four, seven. They are not take home cars. You may drive your car to work and back or to the store or something. But these officers practically live in them, they are their office. When one shift ends the next shift of officers gets in them and drives them. It is also hard on an engine when you have to go from patrol speeds to pursuit speeds in 1.2 seconds. Or have to run hot to get to a call. Police cars are driven hard and therefore break down more and have constant repairs, thats just how it is. This is why a 5yr or 100,000 mile warrant isnt of concern because they will reach 100,000 miles in way less than 5 years. If they are sold off in 2 years before they get to 100,000 miles the city can make more money off of them when they sell them. A city government usually takes this into account when they budget for the police department, so this is nessasary spending not wastefull. Im sure no one will complain when an officer arrives quickly in a new car instead of not arriving at all because his old car broke down on the way there.
There is no making you people happy. You would complain about the mud after you prayed for rain.
I believe they are replacing 2 a year instead of waiting and replacing the whole fleet in one year which makes sense, but I still don't understand how you put out a bid sheet and both meet the specs and you decided you would purchase the more expensive one. To make it even worse it appears that one of the people making the decision was a close friend of the higher priced dealer. That is not fair to the dealer who sharpened his pencil and made a low bid but still met the specs... You can pick and choose and make repair cost comparisons come out anyway you want them to.
maybe they could cut down on expenses by lowering fuel costs by turning off the cars when they are not in them. I have seen numerous times when the cars are left running while officers are not in them. And I myself would like to know why my tax dollars have to pay for new cars for them every two years and I can buy myself a new car but about every five years.
i am kinda wondering why we need two new cars? and wouldnt the repair costs be depending on the problem? and if they took the vehicles to where they bought them to have them fixed maybe they could compare. a few years ago they accepted bids from elmer hare and joe machens....machens was considerably cheaper but we still wasted our money just to say we bought local. i agree with buying local because i do, do they? we need new leadership in this town people, good leadership that takes our interest first. not this group of self scrathers that apparently have a hard time fitting their egos into the cars they buy at hare.
I believe the City has the choice to take the "best" bid not always the "low" bid. Perhaps the performance of the Crown Vics works better for them. Just because they have done this doesn't mean there is anything "illegal" or "shady" going on. The specs they used to bid and award on are available to the public. But then I forgot...don't confuse anyone with the facts. Just like always.
What crown vic are you talking about? I don't think they have any old crown vics that are being used as day to day police cars.
The facts are they surely had bid requirements, if everyone met those requirements then the low bid wins. Especially at a $1000 plus cheaper, unless something sneaky is going on.
Not to honor the low bid is bad enough but then bad mouth the low bidder's product in the new paper is the most unprofessional thing I have seen. Anyone with any common sense can see what this is about. I am ashamed of the people representing us.
From what I hear they compared a 1999 and a 2000 Crown Vic to a 2002 and 2003 Impala. The up keep cost were around $1000 for the Crown Vics and $7000 for the Impalas in the last year or so.
Looking at the link from Buddy, I would say that sounds like (to me) there is much more going on here.
http://americancityandcounty.com/whitepa...
Wasn't last year the first year they purchased Ford vehicles and if so would they be comparing new vehicles to older ones and I suppose the maintenance on older vehicles would be more. As I recall they did not take the low bid last year either so another year or so and they will only get one bid. Just a thought.
I have a new impala and My salesman at John Rectors told me that it has a 5yr/100,000 mile warranty. Where is the cost to fix these vehicles. What is the warranty on the Ford Crown victorias? maybe they need investigate more!!!!
well jimbob, you got this one right. A little home town cooking here. The chief lived with one of these car dealers during college, can you guess which one?
It looks like to me that bidding doesn't count anymore. If both met the specs of the bid sheet it would seem that the low bidder would get the contract, but maybe its a good old buddy system and in those cases the taxpayers usually loose. You don't suppose that some people get discounts do you?
Does the council just take people at their word? I mean maybe there was documentation provided that wasn't clarified in the paper...but it seems like we the people want more information.
i would also like to see where g.ramsey got his information,since he is spending my tax dollors
I thought all the police cars looked fairly new. Is there a reason there is a new for new cars?
Since I am kinda new to the whole "this is where this money comes from" type of stuff...how will this be paid for? (cars and truck)
Sales tax? Property tax? Other?
MPD currently has both Chevys and Fords. Maybe Mr. Ramsey compared invoices for similar repairs to come to this conclusion.
But, committee member Gabe Ramsey said it is more expensive to repair the Chevrolets.
MDN would you ask Mr Ramsey where this information comes from please?