ATHABASCA — A new community peace officer (CPO) will soon be hitting the highways and back roads of Athabasca County and with a second officer, a second vehicle is needed as well.
At the July 12 regular Athabasca County council meeting, Dawn Phillips, director of agriculture and community services, introduced Jason Ollie to councillors while requesting funds out of the public works budget, which had been allocated for light vehicles, to buy an SUV and equipment for the new CPO.
“The current CPO truck was due for replacement this year, which is why we budgeted for a new one,” said Phillips. “But then we appointed a second CPO position so speaking with our mechanic he did feel he could keep it running for the next year.”
Of the $225,000 set aside for three light trucks for public works, $70,000 will be used, but council needed to approve the change to the budgetary plans.
“When we order a truck, it’s at least a year out,” she said. “The quotes I got for new trucks this time around, other than this one supplier, was that it would be six to 12 months to get a new truck and then if it wasn’t started in production at that time, they’d re-quote at that point, and it would push it out longer.”
Phillips noted there is one vendor who pre-ordered some trucks which would fit the bill.
“When I spoke with the CAO (Rod Risling) about this he asked the question of, ‘Do we have the funds to purchase a second CPO vehicle being that the current truck is over 250,000 kilometres and due to be replaced?’” she said. “So, I reached out to the supplier who said that yes, he has one more that’s in production (and) we could get it very quickly, the exact same vehicle.”
The danger of not buying now or even waiting a month would mean no delivery until at least Spring 2023.
“If we wait until the new budget and we budget for it next year, not only are we replacing whatever vehicles need to be replaced in public works, but we will need a new vehicle by then and then we’re probably a year out which means we’re probably not getting it until the end of ‘23, if not the beginning of ‘24,” said Phillips.
Coun. Rob Minns asked if it wouldn’t be more prudent to purchase a truck instead of an SUV.
“I don’t understand going with two SUVs,” he said. “I’d hate to buy an SUV and then we find out we need a truck.”
However, that discussion took place with the current CPO, Kevin Rowan.
“I did speak with CPO Rowan,” Phillips said. “About what is the most suitable second vehicle and he felt that for the amount of times that we actually need a truck we do have county vehicles available.”
Minns then asked where the money was coming from if public works also need vehicles replaced.
“They want to reassess the fleet and at this point, from what I understand, they don’t think they need the funds for new vehicles this year,” she said. “They may reconsider that, but there’s still enough there to purchase two more trucks.”
Even though money was budgeted, the request for approval needed to be made as it was moving from Column A to Column B.
“It’s still the same … budget line but because I’m moving it specifically from the general fleet to the CPO vehicle specifically, we felt for transparency we should bring it to council," said Phillips.
