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City council OKs police cars, waits on computers
By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com
The Grand Island City Council said yes Tuesday to spending $138,000 on seven new police cruisers, but held off on buying 16 new desktop computers for police officers at a cost of $23,200.
Councilman Chuck Haase said the $1,400 cost per computer was more expensive than the computer prices he's seeing this holiday season. He suggested shopping around more to find a "better deal."
However, only half the council was in favor of shopping around. Councilmen Larry Carney, John Gericke, Mitch Nickerson, Jose Zapata and Kirk Ramsey wanted to buy the Dell models suggested by Police Chief Steve Lamken and the city's information technology department.
Because there was no clear majority, Mayor Margaret Hornady is allowed to weigh in. She voted for the city to seek out a better price.
Regarding the police cruisers, Lamken asked for authorization to buy seven Ford Crown Victorias. Although the council unanimously agreed to the purchase, Haase urged the Police Department to consider keeping police cruisers in service for 120,000 miles or more.
Currently, the department trades cruisers in after three years, which typically means 90,000 to 100,000 miles per car.
Lamken said although the mileage may be less than six figures, the cars have more than that accumulated in actual hours of service. Police cars are often running but idle, such as during traffic stops, accident investigations and while operating emergency equipment.
The idle time takes its toll on the cars, but doesn't reflect in the mileage number, Lamken said.
For the record
In other action Tuesday, the city council:
-- Elected Councilwoman Peg Gilbert as the council president for the coming year after three rounds of voting. Gilbert, past president Councilman Bob Meyer and Councilman John Gericke were all nominated for the position. In two separate rounds of secret ballots, Gilbert received four votes and Meyer and Gericke each received three. The president must be elected by the majority of members present, so six votes were needed. Meyer withdrew his name and the third round of voting elected Gilbert with six votes to Gericke's four. The council president presides over meetings in the mayor's absence.
-- Approved a state contract for about $4.5 million in federal stimulus funds to be used to build two northbound lanes of South Locust Street from Interstate 80 to the bridge just south of Highway 34.
-- Appointed Steve Kunzman to the Central District Health Board and Julie Connelly to the Regional Planning Commission. Karen Bredthauer was re-appointed to the planning commission.
Councilman Chuck Haase said the $1,400 cost per computer was more expensive than the computer prices he's seeing this holiday season. He suggested shopping around more to find a "better deal."
However, only half the council was in favor of shopping around. Councilmen Larry Carney, John Gericke, Mitch Nickerson, Jose Zapata and Kirk Ramsey wanted to buy the Dell models suggested by Police Chief Steve Lamken and the city's information technology department.
Because there was no clear majority, Mayor Margaret Hornady is allowed to weigh in. She voted for the city to seek out a better price.
Currently, the department trades cruisers in after three years, which typically means 90,000 to 100,000 miles per car.
Lamken said although the mileage may be less than six figures, the cars have more than that accumulated in actual hours of service. Police cars are often running but idle, such as during traffic stops, accident investigations and while operating emergency equipment.
The idle time takes its toll on the cars, but doesn't reflect in the mileage number, Lamken said.
For the record
In other action Tuesday, the city council:
-- Elected Councilwoman Peg Gilbert as the council president for the coming year after three rounds of voting. Gilbert, past president Councilman Bob Meyer and Councilman John Gericke were all nominated for the position. In two separate rounds of secret ballots, Gilbert received four votes and Meyer and Gericke each received three. The president must be elected by the majority of members present, so six votes were needed. Meyer withdrew his name and the third round of voting elected Gilbert with six votes to Gericke's four. The council president presides over meetings in the mayor's absence.
-- Approved a state contract for about $4.5 million in federal stimulus funds to be used to build two northbound lanes of South Locust Street from Interstate 80 to the bridge just south of Highway 34.
-- Appointed Steve Kunzman to the Central District Health Board and Julie Connelly to the Regional Planning Commission. Karen Bredthauer was re-appointed to the planning commission.
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| Central City teachers' contract dispute goes before Supreme Court | Gericke files for city council |
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