Pierceton Council Approves The Purchase Of A New Car For Police Department
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Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
PIERCETON - The Pierceton Town Council approved the purchase of a new police car Monday.The cost of the new car is $19,503.95. Police Chief Tim Sammons told the board the car being replaced is a 2000 Crown Victoria, which has 105,132 miles on it. He said he took the older car out of commission last weekend because of problems with the car's alternator and emergency light system. Sammons told the board his department had repeated problems with the vehicle.
Sammons said because police cars are used in emergency situations, it would be unsafe for his department to continue using an unreliable vehicle.
The board approved the purchase of the new 2008 Crown Victoria from Kerlin Motors, Silver Lake, for the lowest bid of $21,503.95 for the new vehicle. The total cost to the town includes a $2,000 deduction for the trade-in of the older vehicle.
In other news, the council discussed raising town water tap fees. The town currently charges a one-time $400 to tie into the town's water utility. Most revenue from the fee comes from new constructions. Council President Jerry Kreger said, in cases when the town installs the new tap, the current fee brings in less revenue than it costs the town for materials to complete the job.
The council asked town attorney Jim Walmer to investigate the proper procedure for the town to follow to raise the fee.
The council also recommended an investigation into Sammons' suggestion the town create its own statute on window tinting on automobiles. Sammons said his department recently purchased a meter to measure window tint. He said the state statute assesses a $117.50 ticket on vehicles with windows tinted too dark.
"The officer can't see who's in that vehicle," said Sammons. "It can be really dangerous."
Sammons said when Pierceton officers cite a driver with over-tinted windows, the local police department receives $3 of the ticket assessment. Sammons suggested adopting a town statute which would set the ticket price at $25, within Pierceton town limits, all of which would go to the local department.
Sammons said he is unsure if state allows towns to adopt their own local statute. The council directed Walmer to investigate the matter.
