220 Jewett Blvd, PO Box 218, White Salmon, WA 98672 | 509.493.2112
In the end, the White Salmon City Council decided that even two new cars was too much to provide to the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department.
Despite an overwhelming show of public support for buying four new cars through a lease-to-purchase plan, council members cited budget concerns and balked at backing a compromise proposal to buy two cars in 2010.
During a special council meeting on the evening of Jan. 27, several citizens again urged the council to support at least the compromise plan.
"I'm pleased the council is concerned with the budget, but this two-car compromise is very sound," said Jaci Dietsch, a member of the city's budget committee. "This is more than a loan, it's an investment. Take a minute to consider what the citizens want. Citizens are asking you to provide the equipment that's needed."
Another citizen, Clyde Knowles, said he saw it differently.
"The bottom line is, everybody is cutting back, so let's think about this seriously. Maybe what Jaci says is right, but maybe we need a lot of other things instead," Knowles said.
Budget committee member Shirley Cox also expressed support for getting the new cars.
"The two-car compromise is one that should be approved and adopted tonight. We need cars for our police officers -- cars that are reliable," Cox said.
After the public comments, Mayor David Poucher asked the council members what they wanted to do.
At that point, Police Chief Bruce Brending offered a conciliatory statement to the council.
"I personally feel the two-car option is an incredible fix. It does commit the city to four years of lease payments, and I respect the opinion of the council members concerned about that," Brending said. "Due to the Police Department losing one officer and the length of time it takes to replace an officer, I have to be honest: I think the two-car option is the better option, but for 2010 we truly can survive on one new vehicle."
Brending added, however, that the council needed to put a reliable policy in place for vehicle replacement to meet the department's needs over the long-term.
"It will require a commitment from the council for real replacement plans," Brending explained.
"That's what we've been talking about," responded council member Mark Peppel. "We need to get those policies in place. This has been a wake-up call."
"I appreciate the fact you can make one car work," added council member Richard Marx. "It's been a hard decision for me to make."
Councilor Bob Landgren said he had directly shared his concerns about the budget implications of getting additional cars in a meeting with Brending earlier in the day.
"We spent some time together, and we shared our concerns," Landgren said.
Council member Leana Johnson cautioned the other council members, however, that settling for one new car would not solve the problem facing the Police Department -- which has been working with several cars that have proven unreliable at times.
"We may need two vehicles next year, if not this year," Johnson said.
Brending said he planned to surplus a "minimum of three, and probably four" of the Police Department's cars, which have been kept in reserve for emergency use or as a source for spare parts for newer cars.
The Police Department has $27,000 set aside for a new car in 2010, so no council action was required to go forward with that purchase. The question before the council was, would the council approve a plan to purchase two cars, an action that would require financing for the second car.
"If there is not a motion, there is no action," explained Ken Woodrich, the city's attorney. "If the council does not approve it, there's no deal."
No council member made a motion to support the financing, and the special meeting was adjourned.
On Thursday, Poucher said it was time to move forward.
"I was a little disappointed because the council was asking for more information, and I think they had their minds already made up," Poucher said. "But now, the most important thing is, we move on. It's a situation where everybody had the best interests of the citizens in mind and different ways of approaching it."
Poucher pointed out, however, that because it failed to support the purchase this year, the council will be facing the same decision for 2011.
"Next year, we're going to have to come forward with a request for two new cars," Poucher said.
With the purchase of multiple vehicles now off the table for 2010, Chief Brending said the department will move ahead with purchasing one new car -- most likely a 2010 Dodge Charger, outfitted for police service -- using the funds already set aside in the budget.
"If all goes well, we'll have the car by late May or early June," Brending said.
