Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Ponders Purchases, Sales

REBECCA S. COOPER

Prescott City Council members worked over purchases and sales at their meeting on February 15.

The council had taken bids on a new building for the fire trucks. The new fire house would be located on the east side of the tracks across town.

There was some debate about the price of renovating versus the cost of an entirely new building. There was a substantial difference in the two bids for a metal building.

In addition, the council wanted to see what the increase to the price would be for some specific changes to the office structure inside. The project was tabled to be looked at later.

Prescott's new Chief of Police, Sam Reeder, discussed with the council the hiring of Ann Jordan. Jordan, as in the case of every new law enforcement officer, has a year's probation on the job before she must report to the State Police Academy in East Camden.

Reeder told the council members that they have been having more criminal problems with women, creating a need for the female officer.

The aldermen agreed to purchase four new high band radios with a repeater system. This will provide better radio communications among the Prescott Fire Department and the rural fire departments in addition to helping some of the city employees who need to communicate with others.

Presently the low band radios do not offer Prescott firemen the possibility of talking with the rural fire departments because of the difference. In a lot of cases it could speed help in putting out a fire, Chief Ben Gummeson said last week.

The same type of benefits could speed communications between department employees, especially if water crews happen to be at the river and need assistance. This could take place even during a power outage.

It will take seven to 10 days before the radios will be ready. It will take another five to six weeks for the city to receive a licence. But they can soon be in use with a probation period.

Each radio will cost $350. So the lower bid of $16,225 from Bowlin Communications was accepted.

There was discussion of the purchase of a new car for the mayor and one later for the police department. Trying to find the best way of providing the mayor with a car that could be "a hand me down" to the police chief.

Chief Reeder spoke of the department's need for newer vehicles as the average police vehicle puts 120 and 130 miles per day on it. A decision was made to accept bids on a Ford Crown Victoria with police package.

The contract with R.S.A. Inc., consulting engineers, had their work orders approved in Resolution Three to go ahead with designing, making up time tables and specifications for a filter system at the water treatment plant.