City okays purchase of new police truck

New $52,000 Ford F-150 for Ritzville Cops

Katie Teachout, The Journal | Last updated Oct 20, 2020 2:8pm0

RITZVILLE – City council members approved purchase of a new Ford F-150 for the police department.

City Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt said Police Chief Dave McCormick met with Mayor Gary Cook and herself earlier in the day to look at lease versus purchase options, as well as the Finance Committee.

The F-150 will be replacing the department’s 2005 Chevy Tahoe.

Flyckt said there was $27,500 allocated in this year’s budget for replacement of the police car, along with a line item of $25,000 in capital funds, for a total of $52,500. The truck’s total price was $52,488.

Council member Dennis Chamberlain asked where the $25,000 came from, and Flyckt said the Equipment Rental and Revolving Funds.

“There’s quite a bit of money left in the police department budget right now,” Flyckt said. “I don’t know what else Dave has planned for the end of the year, but I think those numbers are looking pretty solid. I think he’s being very frugal, as most department heads are this year.”

McCormick said he would be making a radio purchase that had been put off for a few years. McCormick said the F-150 was fully equipped and outfitted, and he expected at least a 10-year lifespan out of it.

Council member Mark Weigand motioned for the purchase of the truck and DeDe Boyer seconded it, with all council members present voting in favor.

In other business, council

— Reviewed a previously embargoed Revenue Review from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. Flyckt said the forecasts the state made earlier were lower. August employment nationwide showed an increase of 1.4 million jobs, with unemployment rates decreasing from 10.2% to 8.4%. For Washington, employment increased by 46,800 jobs in August and the unemployment rate dropped from 10.3% to 8.5%.

— Approved an updated Golf Course restaurant agreement with Diane Kennedy of the Caddy Shack. Kennedy began selling wine and beer Thursday, Oct. 8.

— Set Budget Public Hearings dates for Ad Valorem Taxes, Nov. 3; the 2021 Preliminary Budget, Nov. 17; and the 2021 Final Budget Hearing Dec. 1.

Author Bio

Katie Teachout, Editor

Katie Teachout is the editor of The Ritzville Adams County Journal. Previously, she worked as a reporter at The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Oroville Gazette-Tribune, Northern Kittitas County Tribune and the Methow Valley News. She is a graduate of Western Washington University.