MEDINA, Ohio – The police department plans to purchase five new vehicles this year and council has given the OK.
Council recently approved legislation allowing the police department to purchase five 2024 Ford Explorers from Montrose Ford as well as to hire Halls Public Safety to outfit the vehicles so they are ready for police use.
Police Chief Ed Kinney explained that the police department had budgeted for three of the vehicles for this year which are meant to serve as frontline patrol vehicles and replace other vehicles within the department’s fleet.
“Then one of the vehicles will be a replacement for the new K9 school resource officer and the last one will be an administrative vehicle,” he said. “For these last two vehicles, we will be using carry forward funds to pay for them.”
The total cost to purchase the five vehicles is $222,946 and the cost to upfit the five vehicles is $61,000.
“We hope the cost of the new K9 vehicle will be reimbursed in the future,” Kinney said. “We are going to be requesting permission to apply for a grant that would cover the cost of that.”
Also during the meeting, council voted to rescind a job creation grant agreement for Sandridge Food Corp. Council had approved the grant agreement back in May.
“The company requested to withdraw the grant agreement as there has been a change in their circumstances and a new opportunity has presented itself,” Economic Development Director Kimberly Marshall said. “A new opportunity has presented itself and that is a project that will be in the city so when more details become available, I will likely come to council for approval of a new grant agreement.”
