A new SUV for the Columbia Fire Department’s rescue services and a new patrol car should be delivered by the end of November.
The city bought both at the state contract price, the Fire Department’s Dodge Durango for $31,754 and the Police Department’s Dodge Charger for $27,202.
Fire Chief Jeff McKenzie said the Durango will be used by medical first responders.
“It will be purchased at Pine Belt Dodge Chrysler; they’ve got the state contract,” he told the Board of Aldermen Oct. 16 said. “We want to get it with split seats. It will have plenty of room for equipment. There’s plenty of room for medical equipment and their turnout gear. When we get it, it will be fully equipped. We won’t have to do anything else to it but put it in service.”
Mayor Justin McKenzie said the money was in the fire department budget and he knew that CFD needed a new first responder vehicle.
“We’ve kind of been limping along on the old fire chief’s truck,” he said. “It’s had some issues, and it’s had to go to the shop. We got to looking then and seeing what was the best fit. We made sure that in this budget we had the money for it.”
McKenzie said the Durango is the cheapest alternative under the state contract for what the department needs. He said the Ford Explorer and Chevy Tahoe cost more.
“The Durango itself is $24,000 and then the engine which they ordered, the Hemi, and the tow package add to the price a little bit,” the mayor said. “The final price, $31,754 would include lights, sirens and everything he’ll need to put it in service except the lettering on the side.”
Mayor McKenzie explained that with the state contract price entities did not have to get other bids because the price had been obtained by state sources.
“They can sell it at Pine Belt because they’ve negotiated with Dodge,” the mayor said. “If you went to another Dodge dealership it would automatically be higher. They award one state contract. They have the Dodge Durango and the Charger, but the trucks and all are at Landers in Southaven.”
The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase and the vehicle should arrive by the end of November.
The Columbia Police Department also made a purchase of a Dodge Charger complete with light package on the state-contract price, which totaled $27,202. The base price of the unit was $23,102, but with upgrades and the police package it was higher. The board voted unanimously to purchase the new car.
The Board in several other police and fire related actions:
• Approve sending dispatchers Deanna Expose and KD Holman to recertification classes in Pearl Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. The pair will share a room at $94 per night and the $225 cost of the sessions is reimbursed by the state.
• Approved the resignation of firefighter Brian Wood.
• Approved Jenn Bass as a reserve CPD officer.
• Transferred Vanessa Tullis from fulltime to reserve at the CPD.
• Promoted Robert Bush to sergeant/shift supervisor on a 3-2 vote with Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond and Ward 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans voting against because Bush had only served the department for one year, though he has prior law enforcement experience.
• Approved Sgt. Jason Cook, a school resource officer, to move from patrolman-level pay to sergeant-level pay.
• Approved declaring four firearms surplus so that they may be used in trade for newer weapons. The Glock 17 9mm weapons will be traded in on new Glock 45 9mm weapons.
The Columbia Board of Aldermen next meets in regular session at 4 p.m. Nov. 6. The meeting has been moved to the municipal courtroom at City Hall due to the election being held that day.
