Farmington Buys Two New Police Vehicles

FARMINGTON — Though two Farmington aldermen doubted the wisdom of buying a new Ram truck, the City Council unanimously voted March 10 to approve a request to purchase two new vehicles for the police department.

Police Chief Brian Hubbard asked to purchase a 2014 Charger and a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 four-wheel drive, quad cab pickup for $32,000 each, including equipment. The money for both vehicles is in the police department’s 2014 budget.

“Why a Dodge?” asked council member Terry Yopp, noting he didn’t have a problem with purchasing a truck for the police but that his “hangup” was buying a Dodge.

“You couldn’t convince me to buy a Dodge Ram if it was the last vehicle on earth,” Yopp told Hubbard.

Alderman Bobby Morgan added that the Ram did not have a good resale value.

Hubbard went through the list of trucks available through the state buying program and there weren’t any others that would work.

City Attorney Steven Tennant reminded Yopp, “You’ve got to get what you can get on this buying program.”

Hubbard said the police department has to rely on a truck from the city’s street department and having its own four-wheel drive pickup would help in different situations, especially during wintry weather. He said the department also needs a truck for transporting evidence, hauling barricades for different events and transporting the dunking booth, used to raise money for Shop with a Cop.

Hubbard said Chad Parrish, school resource officer, would drive the new truck. It will be fully marked as a police unit but will not be a pursuit rated vehicle because it is four- wheel drive.

Finally, council member Janie Steele closed the discussion on the vehicles by saying, “Can we go ahead and vote on this?” Steele made the motion to approve Hubbard’s request for both vehicles.

Penn reported February sales tax receipts, which are based on December sales. For February, the city received $32,406 from its 1-cent sales tax, up by $4,575, compared to the same time last year, and received $85,528 from the county sales tax, down by $2,252, compared to February 2013.

In other business at the March 10 meeting, Mayor Ernie Penn asked all committee chairmen to remain in place for the year.

For 2014, chairmen will be Bobby Morgan, street committee; Terry Yopp, economic development committee; Brenda Cunningham, beautification; Sherry Mathews, parks and recreation; Patsy Pike, finance; Janie Steele, historical preservation.

Penn also asked council members to plan to stay after the April 14 monthly meeting for a work session to discuss short- term and long-term goals for the city.