Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday approved the purchase of a new police vehicle for the Jackson Police Department, using $32,000 in Indian Gaming impact funds from the Jackson Rancheria.
City Manager Mike Daly said funds were approved by the Jackson Rancheria in its Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund program, which “has been the source of funds for the last three patrol car purchases,” and also a JPD motorcycle.
Daly said department records easily showed the nexus of impact by the casino on Jackson Police Department. Chief Morrison requested bids and advertised for bids locally, and the bid period ended with no bids received. Morrison received one bid package, which arrived late, from a Texas company.
Daly said we “did try to get quotes from the Northern California area,” but found it difficult to get quotes or to even get calls back from the region’s dealerships.
Daly said because no bids were received during the bid period, it allowed him to work directly with companies on a vehicle purchase, and got the company to lower its bid. Morrison said the bid includes delivery of the vehicle, along with siren lights and other features. He said as an emergency vehicle, it must meet federal emissions standards, though not California standards.
Councilman Wayne Garibaldi said they should recognize and give a thank-you to the Rancheria for approving the funding. Morrison said they plan to do a photo op with Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman and all of the vehicles the tribe has provided.
Daly said the state controller has “taken a fine tooth comb to this program statewide.” Morrison said he wished the controller auditors had come to him because he literally had stack of paperwork several inches high from Gaming Distribution Fund records over the years.
The Council unanimously approved the purchase. The bid was for $32,539 for an outfitted 2011 Chevrolet Caprice, from Holiday Chevy-Ford, in Whitesboro, Texas.
Daly in the report said bid packets went to Holiday, and Chevrolet dealers in Fairfield, Elk Grove, Tracy, Stockton and Alhambra, with no bids received by the June 21 deadline. He said city code “provides that if no formal bids are received, the city manager is authorized to negotiate and accept written proposals in accordance with the provisions of the purchasing ordinance.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
