The Salem City Council has agreed to purchase a new police vehicle, even though it was not budgeted.
Police Chief Sean Reynolds is asking for the non-budgeted purchase due to maintenance issues with the two high mileage vehicles that will be traded in as part of the deal with Veto Enterprises. The cost of the new 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe will be $37,982 before trade-in that is expected to be $5,000 to $8,000. Reynolds says he will end the fiscal year with surpluses in several line items that will cover the cost of the vehicle.
The council was concerned there was only one local bid, but City Manager Rex Barbee explained dealers could not guarantee delivery of new vehicles by the end of the city’s fiscal year on April 30th that was a bid requirement. There was another bid from Schmidt Ford, but the cost of the Ford Explorer would have been $44,815.
The council has a provision to allow a local bid to be 5-percent higher. After council discussion, Mayor Nic Farley agreed to have an increase in the cost differential to be increased to 10-percent placed on a future agenda for consideration. But in this case, it wouldn’t matter since the cost difference was 18-percent.
In other action, the council approved the purchase of a used 2012 mini-excavator from Bobcat of Effingham for $35,000. Public Works Director Annette Brushwitz says while they only received one bid this was a very good price. The city is trading in an existing small excavator. She says the new unit will allow crews to access more areas to serve residence.
The board approved a $170,000 motor fuel tax budget for maintenance work in the coming year, including the yearly oil and chip program.
The council agreed to not allow parking on the east end of Magnolia Drive in the Salem Industrial Park where a few semis have been parking.
The council named Janelle Smith to the Tourism Board to replace Bob Haney, who recently stepped down.
