WEIRTON — Weirton Council is moving forward with the purchase and outfitting of five new police cruisers, and are considering implementing a program officials feel would reduce the wear and tear on the department’s fleet.

Council, during its meeting Monday, unanimously approved resolutions to purchase five all-wheel drive 2022 Ford Explorer SUVs at a cost of $176,920, as well as a $59,912 contract for the upfitting of the vehicles, and a $38,710 contract to purchase five Coban in-car camera systems.

Prior to the vote, City Manager Mike Adams pitched the idea of implementing a “take home” program for the city’s police cruisers

“We talked about what is becoming a movement among many of the cities in West Virginia,” he said, claiming most major cities and many of the counties in the state already have such a program in place.

Citing a draft proposal he said was compiled by Weirton Patrolman Brandon Palmeri, Adams said his hope is implementing the plan would help to cut down on the usage of the police vehicles, and possibly receive a better warranty on the vehicles when they are purchased.

“They’re running 24/7 for days and days at a time,” Adams said, noting even some of the city’s newer cruisers have reached 100,000 miles.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone also noted each cruiser is shared by multiple officers, with others explaining the vehicles have to be left running so much because of the amount of electronic equipment, such as computers and cameras, inside. Vehicles used by the K-9 Division also have to have a maintained temperature for the safety of the dogs.

Police Chief Charlie Kush explained to council the department has several vehicles with more than 100,000 miles, with most accumulating between 40,000 and 50,000 miles each year. Through the take home program, it is estimated vehicles would be driven approximately 15,000 miles per year, lengthening their lives to between six and seven years.

In addition, he explained, it would help with response times in the event off-duty officers or members of the department’s Special Response Team are called out.

“They could respond directly,” Kush said.

Kush said, in order for the program to be implemented fully, the city would have to order a total of 19 new cars; the five approved Monday and an additional 14.

No decision was made on the proposed program.

In other business Monday, Weirton Council approved:

An agreement with Justice Business Services for $23,337, for asbestos abatement on a residential structure at 3100 Hill St., and an agreement with Pulice Construction at $8,900 for the demolition of the same structure.

A per capita contribution to the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission in the amount of $5,940

The renewal of the city’s accounting software support contract with Accufund Inc. for $8,999.25

An update to the city’s codified ordinances at $3,600

A contract with Locality Medica Inc. to purchase first due incident and reporting software for the Weirton Fire Department at $9,250

A contract to replace the City of Weirton’s phones and related equipment with Comcast Business Services

The first reading of an ordinance to increase the length of a no parking zone on the west side of Bell Street at its intersection with School Street.

A resolution to place liens on a property at 3405 Orchard St. in the amount of $7,639

A resolution approving the Community Development Block Grant budget of $405,433, and a resolution reprogramming unused funds from the 2019 CDBG and CDBG-CV and 2020 CDBG programs. These resolutions were approved 6-0, with Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh recusing himself citing a potential conflict.

A contract with Kelly Paving for milling and paving of CDBG eligible streets for $223,401.60

The purchase of 25 Dell Latitude 5430 rugged laptop computers for the police department at $51,605.50

Resolutions authorizing the extension of the maturity dates of construction anticipation notes for the city’s water and sewer projects to Sept. 1, 2023.

The purchase of one Toyota Camry-LE front wheel drive vehicle for the Inspections Department at $26,787

A contract to purchase road de-icing salt at a cost of $89.86 per ton.