Staff report
Crestwood aldermen recently authorized the purchase of two new police vehicles despite a board member’s contention that the city isn’t getting the full value out of its police fleet.
The board voted 6-1 June 14 to approve an ordinance authorizing the purchase of two 2011 Ford Crown Victoria police cars from Joe Machens Ford in Columbia for $45,392, or $22,696 each. Ward 3 Alderman Jerry Miguel was opposed, and Ward 3 Alderman Paul Duchild was absent.
Crestwood will buy the Crown Victorias, which will be discontinued after 2011, through the state’s bidding program.
The cars will replace a 2003 Crown Victoria with 67,755 miles and a 1998 Ford Explorer with 59,272 miles, according to Police Chief Mike Paillou. One of the new vehicles would replace the 2003 Crown Victoria in the traffic-control division; the other would be assigned to primary patrol.
Paillou wrote in a memo last month that the purchase “will eliminate all police vehicles from the 1990s.”
Miguel has opposed buying new police vehicles this year. He has argued that the city should be getting more mileage out of its existing fleet.
“Other municipalities are getting far more value out of their police fleet than is Crestwood,” Miguel said before the June 14 vote.
Miguel also has suggested Crestwood consider a forthcoming police interceptor model from Ford that reportedly will be 25 percent more fuel efficient and, Miguel said, will be “specially designed for police work.”
In other business, the board on June 14:
Voted 6-0 to allocate the city’s $23,400 Community Development Block Grant for fiscal 2012 to the Home Improvement Program, which is administered by the county. Qualifying residents can apply for up to a $5,000 loan that can be used toward eligible home-improvement projects.
Voted 6-0 to appoint Mayor Jeff Schlink to the boards of the Crestwood Market, Crestwood Square, Crestwood Point and Sappington Square community improvement districts and to the boards of the Big Bend Crossing, Glenwood Watson and Crestwood Point transportation development districts.
Voted 7-0 to approve an ordinance amending the city’s animal control code to add a definition of “running at large” as recommended by the Animal Control Board.
Voted 7-0 to award a $16,500 contract to Kohl’s Wholesale to provide concession stand supplies at the city’s Aquatic Center for the 2011 season.
Agreed to continue participation in the annual “back to school” statewide sales tax holiday, which will take place from Friday, Aug. 5, until Sunday, Aug. 7.
State and local sales taxes will not be collected on clothing, personal computers and school supplies purchased that weekend in Crestwood, Sunset Hills and other participating Missouri cities.
Voted 7-0 to approve bids by Anthem and Guardian to provide health and dental insurance, respectively, for city employees in fiscal 2012.
