New patrol cars in future for officers

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Thanks to Tuesday's unanimous decision, the Cloverdale Police Dept. will have new police vehicles early next year.

The Cloverdale Town Council voted 5-0 in favor of Cloverdale Police Chief Charlie Hallam to purchase three 2007 Dodge Chargers from Westgate Chrysler Dodge, Plainfield, with a fourth to be purchased through financing from the same business.

Hallam told the council he and Assistant Chief Tim Walker recently test-drove the vehicles and had a demo vehicle on display in town.

"It performed well," Hallam said of the vehicle.

On Tuesday, Hallam said he received four bids for vehicles, including the one from Plainfield.

"We should have (the vehicles) by mid- to late February," Hallam told the board Tuesday.

Hallam told the board Tuesday that he and Walker test-drove vehicles with power and manual seats. He said he believed the vehicles with power seats were more favorable.

"For the price, I think it's worth it," he said.

Board members asked Hallam what the police department intended to do with its other vehicles. Hallam said the two 2000 vehicles would be placed on bids for auction and the two 2003 vehicles would be used as backup vehicles.

"It sounds good," Council President Don Sublett said. "I know you spent a lot of time on this."

Board member John Davis said he thought the vehicles looked smaller than the current cars CPD uses. Walker said there was two cubic feet lost in the trunk of the new vehicle, but nothing more.

Hallam added that the addition of side airbags in the vehicles was important to the department.

"I feel these will obviously be safer vehicles," he said.

Board member Judy Whitaker motioned to accept the bid, with Glen Vickroy granting the second.

Through a measure approved by the board earlier this year, the police department can purchase the vehicles through the Cumulative Capital Development funds.

Meanwhile, the board learned that the 2006 theme for Cloverdale Main Street's Christmas festivities will be "Christmas in a Small Town."

Don Gedert, filling in for his wife Kay, told the council Tuesday that free carriage rides will be offered in the downtown area from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and the lighting of the Christmas Tree will take place at 6 p.m.

The town's annual Christmas Parade will take place at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, and Santa's House will be open that day until 3 p.m. Free pictures with Santa will be offered.

Gedert also informed the board that Main Street had scheduled a free breakfast with Santa at the Cloverdale American Legion from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.

In other business, the board:

* Learned from Utility Manager Mike Gray that the town has received a dump truck it recently purchased.

* Learned that Gray recently found out from Spiker Excavating that guard rail material for Stardust Hills was in.

* Approved a measure for Gray to check files at the Putnam County Courthouse to find out if CSX or property owners own land around the Monon Railroad. Gray originally suggested Jerry Acrea conduct an investigation with CSX to find out who actually owns the land.

* Approved a measure from Town Clerk/ Treasurer Patti Truax to set up a Christmas dinner for all town employees, not to exceed $850.

The council meets regularly at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the town hall.

Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Dec. 12.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: