Bainbridge Council votes to buy squad car

Monday, May 15, 2006

Bainbridge police could soon be in possession of a new patrol car, after Town Council members voted to purchase a 2006 Crown Victoria for the department.

Town Clerk-Treasurer Jason Hartman told to the BannerGraphic that Council members Naomi Barker and Richard Cope both voted in favor of buying the car from Kenny Vice Ford for $19,000 at their regular monthly meeting Wednesday.

Council president Mike Smith was not present at the meeting.

Estimated costs for outfitting the new car with a light package, radio and radar are projected to be around $10,807.

"This car will be more suited for (police) usage," Bainbridge Marshal Rodney Fenwick told the BannerGraphic.

Plans are still unclear for the town's old police vehicle, a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. Council members have debated whether to sell it or keep it as a back-up car.

However, Fenwick said the time had come to replace it as the department's primary patrol vehicle.

"It is almost 6-years-old," he said. "Police work wears a car out pretty quick, and the maintenance was getting high, especially during the last year."

Fenwick said he, as well as his paid and volunteer deputies, will drive the new car.

Meanwhile, Hartman reported from the meeting that income survey results had been verified and show that the town is eligible for grants from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Park Board members hope to apply for the funds to pay for a new park. The facility would be built on 18.16 acres of land on the town's north side recently purchased by the town for $90,000.

Economic Development Income Tax revenue has been set aside to pay for the land purchase. However, grant money as well as other income would be needed for the development of the land into baseball, football and soccer fields, playgrounds and other facilities.

As Bainbridge officials begin the process of grant applications and other development plans, Council members voted to rent the land to a local farmer. Yearly income from this property would be around $2,400, Hartman reported.

In other town development news, an engineer advised the council federal grants may be available to assist in repairing and updating Washington Street in Bainbridge.

Brian Pohlar with engineering firm Hannum Wagle and Cline, told the board that grants up to $200,000 are available for rebuilding the street, development of storm water drainage and construction of sidewalks.

The grants, which are administered by the Indiana Department of Transpor-tation, would require the town to match 20 percent.

Also, council members voted to approve rezoning of three properties owned respectively by Tri-County Bank, Sorensen Develop-ment and Leon and Donna Tippin, Hartman said. The plots of land were rezoned for business (B3). The action paves the way for construction to begin on a new Family Dollar store on the site just east of the bank.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company, hopes to have a 9,200-square-foot store open in Bainbridge by August.

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