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Hochatown approves K-9 purchase, training contract and allocates Choctaw Nation donation to outfitting
Summary
Trustees approved outfitting for a K-9 vehicle, authorized purchase/training contracts for a dual-purpose narcotics/search-and-rescue dog, and allocated a $25,400 Choctaw Nation donation toward K-9 outfitting, with grant coverage and contingency plans noted.
Trustees approved moving forward with a K-9 program that includes outfitting an existing police vehicle and contracting for purchase and handler training of a dual-purpose K-9. The board approved a sales quote for vehicle upfitting (Dana Safety Supply) and a contract with Von Yeager Canine LLC for the dog and handler training.
Speaker 1 (Fire/Police Chief Gilbert) explained the program's multiuse role: “Our purpose of really wanting the dog is not so much for the narcotics detection… It's a dual purpose — tracking and search and rescue; we have a lot of people that get lost up here,” he said. Staff presented pricing: the dog at $9,500, training $4,500, with potential grant coverage of $7,500 if awarded. The board also authorized an offer of employment for a patrol officer to serve as K-9 handler, including additional hours for canine care and training.
Separately, Speaker 9 advised that the quarter's $25,400 donation from the Choctaw Nation Community Fund be assigned to the K-9 outfitting costs and approved a monitoring/reporting procedure to provide the Choctaw Nation required expenditure reports. The board voted to accept the K-9 contract and the allocation; staff will pursue grant funding to reduce town costs and track donor reporting.
Next steps: complete vendor contracts, hire/confirm handler and training schedule, apply grant funding, and report expenditures to the Choctaw Nation under the approved tracking process.
