Council awards purchase of new marine patrol vessel to Safe Boats; vessel to be grant‑funded with city match
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Summary
The city approved awarding the bid for a new 25‑foot marine patrol vessel to Safe Boats at $371,383, using a federal port‑security grant to cover 75% of the cost and drug‑forfeiture funds for the local match. The new boat will expand patrols and carry towing equipment; delivery timing was cited as a factor in vendor selection.
St. Clair Shores council approved a $371,383 award to Safe Boats for a new marine patrol vessel to be used by the police department. The purchase is funded primarily through a U.S. port‑security grant with a 25% local match; the council previously approved accepting the grant and using drug‑forfeiture funds for the city’s share.
Why this matters: The new vessel will allow police to increase water patrols during higher‑use periods, aid boaters in distress and provide a visible safety presence on the city’s waterways. Council emphasized timeliness and vendor ability to meet the grant’s timeline as an important factor in selection.
Bids, selection rationale and capabilities Four vendors submitted compliant bids; city staff recommended Safe Boats (the second‑lowest bid) because its delivery window better matched the grant deadline. Staff said all bids met the technical requirements and that the lower bidder’s delivery estimate risked missing the grant’s funding deadline.
The selected vessel will include towing capability and other patrol features; the police and fire chiefs discussed tradeoffs between an integrated fire pump and portable pumping options and agreed the chosen configuration best fit current needs while allowing portable pumping equipment to be used for fire suppression if required.
Operational use and funding The department said patrols normally run in four‑hour blocks timed for weekend and evening high‑use periods; overtime for boat patrols has historically been funded by grants. The grant covers an estimated $278,000 of the vessel’s cost; the remaining local match will come from drug‑forfeiture funds already budgeted.
Ending: Council approved the purchase and the city will coordinate delivery scheduling, any necessary outfitting and training with the police department; staff said the new vessel should increase marine response capability on the lake and in local marinas.
