WELLSVILLE — Lt. Marsha Eisenhart, Wellsville Police Department, addressed the Wellsville Village Council Tuesday regarding the department’s request to purchase two cruisers at the July 2 which council tabled due to having questions for the police department.

Eisenhart told council that the department has six cruisers ranging in years from 2016 through 2021, with highest milage at 125,000.

“Most of those cruisers we buy are wrecked. They are from New Jersey,” Eisenhart said. “We try to save money because new ones cost about $50,000 plus another $5,000 to $8,000 in equipment and cages and that stuff, so we try to save money. New Jersey wrecks them; they don’t drive them again. We love them because they are low milage and they are like brand new to us.”

She noted the cars that she requested to purchase at the last meeting were probably gone because they sell quickly and she would have to start looking again.

She also said the department has a cruiser in the garage which they have already spent thousands of dollars on, and it’s still not fixed; it is going to cost more money and there are no guarantees that it will be fixed.

Eisenhart also said multiple officers are sharing vehicles while other departments have one for each officer. She said she would see that as a perk for the officers in a department that doesn’t have too many perks.

Eisenhart said the Wellsville officers get $300 a year for clothing when most police departments are $1,000 and above. Also, the wages for village police officers are way below everybody else.

“We try to give them a perk by letting them take care of their own cruisers,” Eisenhart said. “Our young officers aren’t probably going to stay long if you don’t offer them something.”

In addition to the one in the garage, the department has spent more than $3,700 in repairs for the cruisers.

Council man Bill Taft noted there is a cruiser fund which has $17,380 which would cover the cost of one cruiser.

Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah noted that due to hiring a part-time officer this year, which has allowed the department to save money on overtime, the department’s expenditures from their general fund is 20% less than last year, which allows the department to have extra funding to pay for another cruiser.

Eisenhart was requesting two cruisers to be purchased. Council gave the approval for the department to purchase one cruiser for up to $25,000.

Eisenhart also said the all-class reunion held over the July 4 weekend went well. She noted there was only one small incident which was taken care of.

She also said she talked to John Gamble, the village solicitor, regarding the numerous complaints the police department has received of cars, campers and other vehicles being parked on the street and was told even though the village streets are narrow, if the vehicle in question is less than 120 inches wide they can’t do anything about it per the Ohio Revised Code. The vehicles due have to have plates and current registration.

Eisenhart also told council the police department has an attempted murder trial coming up for a grandson that beat up his 92-year-old grandmother and a murder trial coming up in the fall.

Sean Fitzpatrick of Aspen Energy presented a community aggregation proposal with renewal rates for council consideration prior to the public portion of the meeting. The proposal recommends a 24-month contract at .0937 kilowatt with an October start date. It would also include a $20,000 community grant. Fitzpatrick noted in the presentation that the estimated community term savings for electricity would be approximately $138,256.

Council members wanted time to discuss and research the proposal and tabled a decision until their Aug. 5 meeting.

Mayor Bob Boley cautioned residents to be on the lookout for porch pirates in the village.

Fire Chief Barry Podwel said that a renewal fire levy would be on the ballot in November and asked council and residents to vote for it.

Council President Keith Thorn requested an executive session to discuss personnel and possible litigation matters. All council members, Boley and Wah were invited into the session. Council reconvened the open meeting with no action taken.

Taft requested Property/Sewer committee chair Cindy Mick to schedule a sewer meeting due to there being multiple issues regarding sewer to be discussed. Mick scheduled the meeting for July 22 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.

Council member and Cemetery/Park/Equipment Committee Chair Aaron Smith said he wanted to thank First Christian Church for their help around the village. Smith also asked if the village was willing to go half with the Garden Club on the cost to get the village fountain working again. He also noted a park board meeting is scheduled for July 17 at 6 p.m. at the lower pavilion at Hammond Park.

Council members approved the investment of the $100,000 that is currently held in an investment account at Huntington National Bank be moved to an investment money market account at Consumers National Bank when the account at Huntington closes due to Huntington no longer offering that service.

Council members opted to not request a state hearing for the liquor license request from Riverside Roadside. Eisenhart told the council the police department was okay with the license.

Council members also approved the approval of bills totaling $26,947.26 were approved for payment

There was no one to speak during the public portion, no old or new business and no legislation to pass.

The Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall, 1200 Main St. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5.