Highland Lake council approves purchase of two police vehicles, surpluses two 2011 units

The Town of Highland Lake council voted April 28 to buy two used police vehicles and to surplus two older units, moving to replace aging equipment in the police fleet. Police Chief Scott Kon told the council the department needs to replace two vehicles currently in service. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gail Bailey at 12:03 p.m. and adjourned at 12:22 p.m.

The council approved the purchases after brief discussion about fleet needs. Council member Bobby Rhodes made a motion to purchase a vehicle from Oneonta for $4,000; Wes Faulkner seconded the motion and all present voted yes. Rhodes then moved to purchase a second vehicle from Owens Crossroads for $28,000; Faulkner seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The minutes note both purchases passed with all present voting in favor.

The council also voted, on Rhodes’s motion and Faulkner’s second, to surplus a white 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2011 Dodge Ram truck. According to the minutes, the surplused vehicles "will be sold as soon as possible." The council’s recorded attendees were Mayor Gail Bailey and council members Wes Faulkner, Bobby Rhodes, Carl Randall and Anne Rilling; Ramzi Malek and Mary Ann Allen were listed as absent.

No specific financing source for the purchases was listed in the minutes, and the record does not specify how the vehicles will be sold or whether the proceeds will be applied to the police department budget. Chief Kon’s explanation that replacements were needed was the only substantive presentation recorded on fleet condition.

The council took the votes as individual motions on the floor; each motion passed with all present voting yes. The meeting minutes show no amendments or conditions attached to the purchases or the surplusing action. The council moved on to consider other business after the fleet actions and later adopted a resolution to participate in a commemorative grant program.