Board OKs Purchase of Police Radios, Public Works Trucks

will have five more police radios, capable of communicating with the Will County Sheriff’s Department, state police and other police agencies, after trustees signed off on the $27,710 purchase at the Dec. 21 meeting.

Chief Mark Turvey said the department’s current supply of 35 radios was “adequate in most circumstances,” but the additional radios will be a big help when it comes to coordinating large events like the annual RomeoFest and handling major emergencies.

The purchase was not sent out for bid, since Motorola is the sole provider of the radios, Turvey said, but added the $27,710 purchase price was under the amount already budgeted for the expense.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to modernize police communications,” Major John Noak said, adding the radios help keep police personnel safe and provide for better response to emergencies.

Other purchases

The village will also spend a total of $119,093 to replace three outdated public works vehicles.

Trustees agreed to use the Suburban Purchasing  Cooperative Joint Purchasing  Program with the Will County Governmental League to purchase the following vehicles:

• 2012 Ford F550 - $45,066
• 2012 Chevy 3500 - $40,337
• 2012 Chevy 2500 - $33,690

All three purchases came in under the budgeted amount, Public Works Director Dan Bromberek said.

Trustees also OK’d the purchase of an elevated wash bay platform for the village’s treatment plant consolidation project, with a price tag of $23,200, and a $49,900 compact track loader to be used for water and sewer repairs.