Police department to get four new vehicles

By Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Feb. 7 city council meeting
The Brecksville Police Department is buying four 2023 police utility vehicles from Montrose Ford for a total of $167,596. Police Chief Stan Korinek said two of the vehicles are available immediately; the others should be ready for delivery in a couple of months. Along with the purchase, city council approved $3,330 for vehicle graphics to be installed on the new vehicles.

“We have cruisers that have in excess of 105,000 [miles on them],” Korinek said, noting the threshold for police use is typically 90,000. He also noted the department’s canine unit vehicle has about 85,000 miles on it and is due to be decommissioned.

The city will spend $65,627 for labor and equipment needed to decommission the older vehicles and equip the new ones. The decommissioned vehicles will be used elsewhere within the city, he said.

Council also authorized the recreation department to purchase an aquatic wheelchair for $4,276. The unit will be utilized at each of the three zero-entry pools. According to Recreation Director Rachele Fitz Engle, the funds will be allocated as part of a $12,000 developmental disabilities grant her department received last year.

“It doesn’t come up that often, but when asked, it is good to be able to offer it,” she said.

Council also authorized an additional $316 to replace a lift-operator battery for outdoor pool at the aquatics center.

Brecksville City Hall will soon receive upgrades to its audiovisual equipment. The city will pay $16,756 for various pieces of equipment, including televisions, distribution amplifiers, video conferencing equipment, wireless screen casting devices, nanocomputers and miscellaneous cables, parts and accessories. The city also plans to purchase two projectors for the community center at a cost of $7,699. 

City council authorized the mayor to apply for several grants. Funding is being requested from the American Recue Act funding though Cuyahoga County District 6, Round 2, in addition to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Route to School Program. The city also plans to apply for funds offered through the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Office of Justice Programs; the U.S. Department of Justice and Justice & Security Strategies Small Rural and Tribal Body-Worn Camera Microgrant Program; and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safe Intervention Grant Program for service and fire department safety equipment.

The city’s fire chief was also authorized to complete the grant process for the fiscal year 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for lithium battery and electric vehicle emergency response equipment, as well as a second grant for a ladder truck.

Council also authorized the mayor to accept $2,000 from the NOPEC Community Event Grant, which the fire department plans to use to sponsor the annual summer ice cream social. ∞