Vehicle purchase OK'd

Portland Police Department will be getting some new vehicles.

During a special meeting Tuesday, Portland Board of Works approved the purchase of three new trucks for the police department. It also OK’d having them equipped as police vehicles, pending approval of funding for that purpose from Portland City Council.

At its March 18 meeting, city council approved $149,999 for the purchase of new vehicles for the police department. The approval came after council members had expressed concern last month about a department fundraising letter that was distributed seeking to raise $350,000 for an “urgent request for assistance” for new police vehicles and equipment.

Portland Police Chief Dustin Mock explained at the council meeting that the goal is to have one vehicle per officer and to eliminate two of the current vehicles that are older and ready to be removed from service. (He was requesting five new vehicles to achieve that goal.)

Portland police investigator Jeff Hopkins presented the proposal for the purchase of vehicles at Tuesday’s meeting. He noted that the department had considered buying Chevrolet Tahoes but that they came in at $50,685 apiece, which would have limited the department to two new vehicles based on the amount allocated by city council. He said Kelley Chevrolet of Decatur had several pursuit-rated Chevrolet Silverados available at a cost of $48,320.

Hopkins recommended the purchase of three Silverados at a total cost of $147,325. It would cost $45,669.95 to have them equipped as police vehicles by Safety Systems of Richmond.

Portland Mayor Jeff Westlake, who is a member of the board of works, asked whether cars had been considered. Hopkins responded that Dodge Chargers, which are currently being used by the department, are being discontinued and have had frequent maintenance issues. He said there would be better durability and resale value with the Tahoes or Silverados.

“I’’m for it,” said Westlake, “I was just kind of curious about police cars.”

Board of works members Jerry Leonhard, Steve McIntosh and Westlake approved the purchase of the vehicles. They also approved equipping the vehicles through Safety Systems, pending approval of funding from Portland City Council.

The board also approved the hiring of Dennis Fiscus as a full-time police officer. Fiscus served as a full-time officer for Bluffton Police Department from 1989 to 2013. He has been a part-time Portland officer for about a year and a half.

Leonhard, McIntosh and Westlake also approved an indemnity agreement with HIS Constructors of Indianapolis related to the runway extension project at Portland Municipal Airport.

Greg and Cindy Whitenack of rural Portland entered into a contract with HIS for the fill dirt it needed for the project. Cindy Whitenack visited Portland Board of Aviation in November 2021 to say HIS did not meet the specifications of the agreement. She and her husband filed suit against the company, as well as the city and the airport, in October 2022.

The indemnity agreement, which had already been signed by HIS and approved by the board of aviation, indemnifies Portland from any liability related to the lawsuit.

In other business, the board:

•Approved the following: a new five-year contract at a cost of $62.20 per ton with Randolph Farms of Muncie for disposal of trash and recycling; the hiring of Kyle Overla as a water department employee to begin April 8; a water bill adjustment of $60.32 because of a leak.

•Released retainage of $172,880.31 to Watson Excavating of Redkey for the Meridian Street storm sewer project.

•Approved a reimbursement agreement with Jaylen Riddle for training at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. If Riddle leaves the department within a three-year period, he will be responsible for repaying some of the cost of his training to the city.