New police cruiser added to Granville’s aging fleet
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GRANVILLE - Town Council on Tuesday approved a request by Police Chief Brian Hill to purchase a new police cruiser from Jenkins Ford in Buckhannon.
Hill said the Police Interceptor he is looking at retails for $53,000, but Jenkins Ford is offering it to Granville for $47,970.
"Jenkins Ford likes to buy Police Interceptors and have them ready for us and other agencies," Hill said.
Mayor Patricia Lewis said the town has budgeted for the police department to buy one new car and another may be possible from the municipal sales tax. A 1% sales tax went into effect July 1 for purchases made at retail stores and restaurants in town limits.
Earlier in Tuesday's meeting, Lewis said the town recently received its first check from the state, but town officials believe the payment is not correct and are working to figure it out.
While making his request to purchase the Interceptor, Hill said the Granville Police Department has six vehicles that are beyond the life expectancy for a typical police cruiser.
"We drive our cars every day," he said. "We have two that are 17 years old. They haven't moved in a few years. I don't know why we've held on to them for so long."
Hill said those two vehicles will be put on a governmental auction site next week. Two other police vehicles are 11 years old and another two are eight, Hill said.
"The life expectancy of a police car is three to five years," the chief said. "We are better on our vehicles. We take better care of them and don't drive them far."
In addition, the town makes sure the vehicles are regularly serviced, Lewis said.
Hill also reported on recent testing of police candidates. He explained an application period runs for 40 days once it is advertised. Most recently, there were six applicants. Of those, two showed up for agility tests this past Saturday. Both failed. They will be permitted to retest if they make the request.
Hill said he plans to post another application period after Thanksgiving and give the test in January. The town recently hired Collin Parker, but is still down one officer, Hill said, adding that Parker would start working in December and attend the January session of the West Virginia State Police Academy to be certified.
In other business:
· Mayor Lewis reported that GSI, a company specializing in emergency landslide repairs and rockfall mitigation, has completed the temporary fix of Emmett Drive. She said not all of the work done can be seen from Emmett Drive or the surrounding area. Next, Lewis will work with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection on a permanent fix. Because University Town Centre was built on former coal mine property, it is hoped the DEP will help with funding of a permanent solution. Emmett Drive was closed in February and reopened last week.
· Executive Administrator Latina Mayle told council all lights at University Town Centre have been updated with LED bulbs. She said that is 78 lights that should last longer and be brighter and save the town about $750 monthly. She said the town is also replacing bulbs in street lights downtown as they burn out, but wasn't sure how much that would save the municipality because those bulbs will be a different wattage from those at the town center.
· Mayle also reported on Granville's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. She said she is working with the principal at Skyview Elementary to have students singing for the event, which will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the town's Veterans Park.
The next Granville Town Council meeting will be 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Town Hall, 1245 Main St.