The Junction City Police Department and Junction City Fire Department will both be receiving new vehicles.

Police Chief Tim Brown approached the commission Tuesday night seeking approval to purchase a new Animal Control van and Fire Chief Kevin Royse was seeking approval to purchase a new ambulance.

Chief Brown explained that the current Animal Control van is aging and repair costs are piling up each year.

“We currently have a 1997 Ford Econoline Van, which actually came to us from the Recreation Department. Ed Lazear had given us that van I think it was back in 2010 I believe,” said Brown. “That van has 168,000 miles on it. Attached to the packets you will note that maintenance on that vehicle is starting to get quite expensive.”

Maintenance costs on that vehicle since February of 2011 have totaled $5,577.44.

The Commission approved the purchase of a 2015 Ford Transit 150 two wheel drive cargo van through the GSA Auto Choice ( Kansas Highway Patrol partner program) for $22,342.21. The Police Department did budget $25,000 for the purchase of a new van in this years budget. The City will auction off the older vehicle.

The Fire Department was also seeking approval to purchase a new ambulance Tuesday night. Chief Royse explained that it is time to purchase a new ambulance,”to properly rotate our operational fleet.”

The department did directly solicit six vendors, however due to the specific requirements included in Junction City’s RFP they received only one bid from Osage Ambulances in the amount of $224,191.00. The department has purchased their last three ambulances from Osage Ambulances, because they are able to build the ambulance to the departments specifications.

Instead of getting rid of the older ambulance that the new one will replace the department will instead place it in reserve status and use it for a specific use.

“We intend to utilize Med One as our primary utility vehicle that will be equipped with our new surface water, and ice surface rescue equipment,” said Chief Royse. “We will still keep the possibility of placing Med One in service when needed in emergency situation such as for repairs of our other front line vehicles.”

The new ambulance will be purchased through a lease purchase agreement. Money has been budgeted in the departments 2015 general fund for the first payment of the agreement.