New plan allows earlier purchase of police squad car

A reshuffling of village vehicles will allow the Fredonia marshal’s office to replace one of its squad cars two years earlier than expected.

Officials were looking at replacing a 2014 squad car in 2022.

But last week, village Public Works Director Roger Strohm proposed that he take the 2014 squad and reassign the village’s 2012 pick-up truck that he uses to the sewer utility.

The would preclude the need to buy a new sewer utility truck for which the village had set aside $40,000 during the last two years.

With the savings, the Village Board directed Marshal Mike Davel to begin the process of purchasing a new squad car.

Davel said the new vehicle will cost about $46,000 and probably won’t be ready until next summer.

Finally, the village will be looking to sell the sewer utility truck that is being replaced and a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, also a former police car, that is being used by the public works department.