Town marshal recommends Tip of the Spear; council approves $2,006.99 repair for police truck lights

The Kirklin Town Marshal told the council that the police truck’s emergency lighting has been failing because water gets into the Phoenix-brand fixtures, and he recommended replacing the lights rather than repairing them piecemeal.

“I spoke with three outfitters, all agreed that the lights that were put on that new … the brand of those are Phoenix, and, apparently, they’re notorious for holding water,” the marshal said, describing repeated moisture intrusions that cause shorting and erratic flash patterns. He presented two written quotes and recommended selecting Tip of the Spear despite that vendor’s estimate being about $154 higher, citing a more thorough in-person inspection and a 10-year wheel-and-light warranty on the Tip of the Spear equipment.

Committee member moved to accept the Tip of the Spear estimate to replace the emergency lights on the police truck. Chair announced the amount as $2,006.99; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Separately, the marshal said he is pursuing a Department of Homeland Security grant to buy two-way radios ahead of a statewide radio-system upgrade that will render current radios inoperable. He also reported a $7,000 quote for radar/speed signs and said he is exploring grant funding and local inter-town arrangements to help cover costs. He explained the signs can capture vehicle counts and average speeds, which the marshal’s office could use for targeted enforcement if data shows recurring speed problems.

The council approved the lights replacement by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.