Committee approves vehicle agreement with regional law-enforcement system for emergency-response use

The Peoria County Public Safety and Justice Committee approved an agreement under which Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Systems purchased and outfitted a vehicle the county will operate for regional emergency response.

A county staff member described the vehicle as an F-350 Super Duty diesel fitted with secure vaults, lights and radios. The vehicle will serve a regional weapons-of-mass-destruction team and the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team. "We pull those trailers. We use it for personnel transportation," the presenter said, noting the vehicle is four-wheel drive and frequently used to haul specialized equipment and for officer-rescue transport.

The agreement mirrors prior arrangements the county made when agencies purchased specialized vehicles (staff referenced a similar arrangement for a Bearcat vehicle). Under the contract, the purchasing agency acquired and outfitted the vehicle; Peoria County will be responsible for routine maintenance such as tires and oil.

Committee member Paul moved the motion to approve the agreement; Danny seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Staff said the vehicle recently returned from Iowa after outfitting; a presenter estimated the fully equipped vehicle would be in the range of about $175,000 once outfitted, and described the estimate as a rough figure. The committee did not attach additional conditions to the agreement during the meeting.