Ontario council considers police car deal

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Friday, November 28, 2008 10:40 AM PST

Ontario — The Ontario City Council heard from an Ontario Police Department official about the future of a police car that had worn out its welcome and discussed a liquor license application for the newly- constructed Love’s Truck Stop at its work session Wednesday.

In one of the first orders of business, OPD Chief Mike Kee informed the council about Love’s Truck Stop management seeking a liquor license. Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick asked if there would be a “full bar” on the premises. Kee replied there would not.

“You can just buy your six-pack and leave,” Kee said.

Kee said the travel stop, which has been under construction since June, should open by the end of this month. The council will vote on whether or not to approve the license at its meeting Monday night.

In other police business, OPD Capt. Mark Alexander offered the council an update regarding one of the police vehicles, a 2003 Crown Victoria. Alexander asked the council to consider declaring the vehicle, which currently has about 114,500 miles on it, surplus property. This action would allow city staff to negotiate a sale or dispose of the vehicle.

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If the car is approved as surplus property, Alexander said the Ontario Police Department would give the Crown Victoria to Treasure Valley Community College, in exchange for college credits for police officers continuing education.

“I was supposed to declare it earlier this year, but I wanted to get a couple more miles out of it,” Alexander said.

He said TVCC would use the vehicle for security, and the vehicle would be traveling a lot less on campus than it would in day-to-day police use. He also said he plans to remove the stripes, which identify the car as a police vehicle. He would, however, leave some of the lights on.

Alexander said the car has rear bumper damage, and the steering wheel has lost most of its padding. However, he said the department would gain about 20 to 30 credits from the deal, and TVCC was aware of the vehicle’s condition.

TVCC currently lists its fee for in-state residents taking classes as $76 a credit.  

Ontario City Councilman Bruce Tuttle said he believed TVCC sends the vehicles to its mechanics class for work.

In other council news:

—The Ontario City Council heard from Public Works Director Chuck Mickelson regarding the addition of a new lift station in northwestern Ontario in 2007. Mickelson said the need for a new lift station was highlighted in the 2001 master plan, and the $4 million worth of upgrades were obtained through a loan.

“The mayor wanted to know did we get our money’s worth, is it a good project and is it going to last?” Mickelson said. “And the answers are yes, yes and yes.”

He also said he plans to bring the issue of the loan to the city’s attention again at the council’s Dec. 15 meeting. Mickelson said he plans to request $171,000 be moved from the sewer contingency fund to sewer debt service. He also said 60 to 70 percent of the lift station will serve existing residents with 30 to 40 percent to help with new growth.

— Mickelson also informed the council the city has received its first System Development Charge payment. The $1,750 payment, he said, came from Tacos El Zarape, situated near the Ontario Pilot.

—The council also heard from Dominick regarding potential plans to revamp the railroad overpass. Dominick said he is currently in discussion with Union Pacific’s Brock Nelson regarding how much of the overpass belongs to the city and how much is Union Pacific’s responsibility.