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Crest Hill council approves 21‑item consent agenda, including trailer and two police interceptors
Summary
The Crest Hill City Council on July 6 approved a 21‑item consent agenda that included the purchase of an air‑tow trailer for $21,530, a 2027 Ford Interceptor K‑9 vehicle with equipment for $63,707.87 and a 2027 patrol Interceptor for $59,457.13. Council removed three items for brief discussion before voting.
The Crest Hill City Council approved a 21‑item consent agenda on July 6 that included equipment purchases, professional services agreements and a roadway rehabilitation contract.
The most notable approvals were the purchase of a 2027 air‑tow trailer for $21,530 and two new police vehicles: a 2027 Ford Police Interceptor Utility equipped for a K‑9 in the amount of $63,707.87, and a 2027 Ford Police Interceptor Utility patrol vehicle with equipment for $59,457.13. Council removed items 6(f)–6(h) for separate discussion before bringing each to a vote and approving them individually.
Why it matters: the purchases update public‑safety and public‑works equipment and are part of the city’s broader effort to modernize the fleet and reduce operating costs. The council discussed lifecycle costs and vehicle replacement criteria, with members pressing staff for details on which existing units would be retired and whether equipment from older cars could be reused to save money.
What was said: Alderman Scott raised questions about usage frequency for trailers and about whether the department should favor hybrid vehicles to reduce fuel and engine hours. Deputy Chief Ryan Dobbsick said the K‑9 vehicle was intentionally specified as a non‑hybrid because hybrid vehicles may shut off when idle, which can impair continuous climate control for a police dog; the department will retain an existing K‑9 vehicle as a spare to cover service outages. City administrator Blaine Wing and public works staff said the proposed air‑tow trailer has a roughly 20‑year life expectancy and an expected return on investment within about five years by reducing wear on slow‑moving equipment.
Vote and procedure: each removed item was called individually. The trailer purchase (consent item 6f) and both police vehicle purchases (6g and 6h) were approved by council voice/roll call votes; the transcript records at least one no vote on the vehicle items from a member who wanted more detail about replacement and reuse of equipment. The mayor directed that agreed corrections to minutes be incorporated before finalizing the record.
Details in the packet: earlier in the consent list the council also approved a $1,799,817.55 contract for the 2026 roadway rehabilitation program, professional services agreements for water/sewer rate planning and municipal park plaza planning, and an amendment to a PFAS treatment pilot testing services agreement involving the city, Will County and Strand and Associates. Specific contract parties and amounts were read into the record by the mayor during the agenda read.
Next steps: staff said they will provide requested specifics about which vehicles are being replaced and odometer/engine‑hour details to council. Procurement and contract documents will be finalized per the approved amounts and terms.
