City board OKs new vehicles for police department

The Hot Springs Police Department's fleet sits at the ready behind the department's Malvern Avenue headquarters Monday. The Hot Springs Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 11 new Ford sport-utility vehicles for the department. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record
The Hot Springs Police Department's fleet sits at the ready behind the department's Malvern Avenue headquarters Monday. The Hot Springs Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 11 new Ford sport-utility vehicles for the department. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record

The Hot Springs Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 24 new vehicles last week through the state and local government syndicate that uses its buying power to negotiate lower prices, including 11 for the police department.

The almost $400,000 for the Ford police interceptor sport utility vehicles accounted for most of the $701,492 expense allocated across the general, police, fire, stormwater, wastewater and utility administration funds. The board authorized the purchase of six Ford SUV police interceptors last year as part of the 16 new vehicles approved for the city's fleet in 2019.

Short-term financing available to local governments will pay for the more than $540,000 from the general, police and fire funds. The board adopted an ordinance last month approving U.S. Bancorp Government Leasing and Finance to carry the five-year loan at an interest rate 41 basis points above the five-year Treasury note.

In addition to vehicles, the $1.36 million loan is financing renovations to the former Entergy Arkansas Inc. business office the city bought last year at 324 Malvern Ave. The finance department, utility billing services and the city attorney's office will be relocated to the vacant upper Malvern Avenue building later this year.

The Ford SUVs selected for the police department have a $34,820 base price, according to pricing sheets presented to the board. The hybrid model has a $35,668 total cost. Eight have a $32,978 cost, and two are priced at $33,623. The city's fleet department said the hybrid model's 3.3-liter engine averages 24 miles to the gallon. The non-hybrid gets about 16 to 18 miles to the gallon.

The fleet department said the hybrid will be assigned to the criminal investigation division. Based on its performance, hybrids could be assigned to the patrol division in the future. The hybrid engine is listed as a $2,300 option on the pricing sheet presented to the board.

The fleet department said there are about half a dozen hybrids in the city's fleet, mostly in the planning and transit departments.

The 11 new vehicles approved this year are part of the $570,000 in capital expenses in the police department's $13.6 million budget. A Dodge Ram 1500 four-wheel-drive crew cab was also authorized for the department's animal services division. The truck, with a $23,980 base price, will replace a 2012 Ford F-150 with 121,000 miles.

New vehicles authorized for general fund-supported departments included a Chevrolet Traverse and Chevrolet Express Van for parks and trails. The Traverse, with a $24,389 base price, will replace a 2011 Ford Windstar with more than 103,000 miles. The Express Van, with a $21,877 total price, will replace a 2006 model with more than 190,000 miles.

The planning department will get a Dodge Ram 1500, with an $18,047 base price, to replace a 2013 Ford F-150 with 115,000 miles. The city's urban forester and sports recreation department will get 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 four-wheel-drive crew cabs with a $23,983 base price.

Vehicles for departments not supported by the general fund included a Ford three-quarter ton four-wheel drive long bed extended cab, $26,318 base price, for utility administration, a Dodge Durango, $27,117 base price, for the stormwater department and a Chevrolet Colorado extended cab, $22,319 base price, for the wastewater department.

Local on 03/10/2020

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