Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Muscoda board approves pump repair for police squad, directs bids for replacement
Summary
The Muscoda Village Board approved a water-pump repair on the police department's 2018 Ford Explorer and directed staff to solicit bids for a replacement vehicle after the department reported a failing pump, 83,000 miles and about 14,000 engine hours.
The Muscoda Village Board on July 22 authorized a Fenton's Garage repair to the 2018 Ford Explorer police squad and directed staff to obtain bids for a replacement vehicle.
Police Chief Schramm told trustees the Explorer "is losing antifreeze" because the water pump is failing; the vehicle has about 83,000 miles and another 14,000 hours on the motor. He said Fenton’s Garage quoted roughly $2,000 to replace the pump. The department’s capital plan called for replacing the squad in 2025, and the Police Capital account currently holds $57,000. Chief Schramm said a new squad would cost an estimated $40,000 to $43,000 before upfitting.
Trustee E Johnson moved and Trustee Seifert seconded a motion to have Fenton’s Garage replace the water pump and to solicit bids to replace the squad; the motion carried. The board did not authorize a purchase that evening and asked staff to gather competitive bids for full replacement and report back.
Why it matters: the decision preserves vehicle availability for patrol operations while the board evaluates the cost of replacement and upfitting. The repair is a short-term approach that preserves capital while allowing trustees to compare replacement options and pricing.
The next steps: staff will solicit and report back with bids for a replacement squad, including estimated upfitting costs, so the board can decide whether to purchase in 2024 or proceed with the existing 2025 capital plan.
