Lake County Gazette

Lake Forest City Manager, Jason Wicha, has been granted permission by the city council to purchase used vehicles. These will serve as replacements for the police department's aging unmarked vehicle fleet. The purchases will be funded by a $250,000 grant which, according to state Sen. Julie Morrison's office, the city has received.

According to the March 18 agenda of the Lake Forest City Council, the six unmarked vehicles currently in use by the investigations and administrative sections are at or past their expected lifespan. Several of these vehicles have experienced serious mechanical issues. The challenge of purchasing new police vehicles precludes replacing them with low-mileage patrol vehicles. If replacement were to follow usual city purchasing practices, it could potentially endanger the police department's operational needs due to a shortage of vehicles.

The March 18 agenda of the Lake Forest City Council also notes that unmarked vehicles for administrative and investigative uses do not need to meet the strict requirements for patrol use. A thriving used vehicle market offers several reasonably priced options.

Staff members have requested a waiver for the bidding process as dealerships will not "hold" a vehicle while awaiting city council approval on a regularly scheduled meeting date, according to the same agenda. Following the use of the city's Capital Funds for vehicle purchase, reimbursement will be provided through the grant managed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Activity.