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Liverpool Township Trustees thank Chester VFW for vehicle donation
By DAVID M. GRIMES (dgrimes@reviewonline.com)
LaCROFT — Liverpool Township trustees and Police Chief Charlie Burgess were still smiling Monday night as Chester’s Veterans of Foreign War, Post 6450’s $37,000 donation toward the purchase of a new police vehicle officially went into the township minutes.
“We’ve never had something like this before,” Karl Kontnier, trustee, said at the township meeting.
On Friday, Jim Johnson, Adam Yeates, John Ash and Robert Milby of the VFW presented Burgess with the ceremonial check in Chester that went towards purchasing the 2008 Ford Expedition. The vehicle was purchased locally at Grand Ford, who beat everyone’s price for that type of vehicle, Burgess said.
After discussing the matter at the meeting, Burgess and trustees agreed that this gift will really help the township out in more ways than one.
“This is deeper than it looks,” Burgess said.
Kontnier explained that the township and the police department would have been really strapped for cash if they had to purchase the vehicle themselves. But because of their good neighbors across the river, the township police department will be able to pursue additions to the force like bullet proof vests and possibly in-dash video cameras for the cars.
Burgess added that they would not even be thinking about those ideas if it weren’t for Post 6450.
Kontnier said that even though they are in a different state, many people’s lives are intertwined with Chester and the township. He was glad the VFW could help them out. Chester’s VFW post has donated funds, for vehicle purchases, to several other area police departments including Hancock County, Chester, East Liverpool, Wellsville and others in the surrounding area.
The trustees wanted to emphasize that the vehicle and all installed equipment were purchased by the VFW’s donation and none of the money came from the township and the taxpayers. Only the laptop was purchased with the township’s funds. The other four laptops in the other crusiers were purchased with grant money.
The donation came to light, in large part, because of Milby who is a Liverpool Township resident. Milby heard of Burgess’ situation when the chief started to organize the purchase. Then he told the department and trustees that the Chester VFW was willing to help them out.
But the trustees acknowledged and appreciated the kindness of the entire organization who had to approve the vehicle purchase.
“The vote had to go to the floor to get it done,” Kontnier said. “What a wonderful gift.”
His fellow trustees were just as appreciative.
“It should last 10 to 12 years,” Trustee Keith Burke said of the new Expedition. “I want to say thanks to the VFW for that.”
The police department will be putting the old 1996 GMC Jimmy, that the Expedition replaced, up for a private sale. Interested parties are to contact Burgess at the police department to place a sealed bid. The township will be accepting bids until 4 p.m. on May 19. The fire department is also placing two Ford Crown Victorias, a 1993 and 1995 model, up for bid as well. Interested parties are to contact Chief Mike Bahen at the fire station. The vehicles will be displayed outside of the township building during the week.
Also at the township meeting:
- The fire department had 10 calls for the month of April and the police department received 121 calls. The highest volume of reports related to incident reports with 39. There were also 27 traffic citations, nine accident reports, eight arrests, seven juvenile cases and five theft reports.
- The road department put up a no outlet sign on 7th Avenue and are continuing with their efforts toward the chip and seal project.
“We’ve never had something like this before,” Karl Kontnier, trustee, said at the township meeting.
On Friday, Jim Johnson, Adam Yeates, John Ash and Robert Milby of the VFW presented Burgess with the ceremonial check in Chester that went towards purchasing the 2008 Ford Expedition. The vehicle was purchased locally at Grand Ford, who beat everyone’s price for that type of vehicle, Burgess said.
After discussing the matter at the meeting, Burgess and trustees agreed that this gift will really help the township out in more ways than one.
“This is deeper than it looks,” Burgess said.
Kontnier explained that the township and the police department would have been really strapped for cash if they had to purchase the vehicle themselves. But because of their good neighbors across the river, the township police department will be able to pursue additions to the force like bullet proof vests and possibly in-dash video cameras for the cars.
Burgess added that they would not even be thinking about those ideas if it weren’t for Post 6450.
Kontnier said that even though they are in a different state, many people’s lives are intertwined with Chester and the township. He was glad the VFW could help them out. Chester’s VFW post has donated funds, for vehicle purchases, to several other area police departments including Hancock County, Chester, East Liverpool, Wellsville and others in the surrounding area.
The trustees wanted to emphasize that the vehicle and all installed equipment were purchased by the VFW’s donation and none of the money came from the township and the taxpayers. Only the laptop was purchased with the township’s funds. The other four laptops in the other crusiers were purchased with grant money.
The donation came to light, in large part, because of Milby who is a Liverpool Township resident. Milby heard of Burgess’ situation when the chief started to organize the purchase. Then he told the department and trustees that the Chester VFW was willing to help them out.
But the trustees acknowledged and appreciated the kindness of the entire organization who had to approve the vehicle purchase.
“The vote had to go to the floor to get it done,” Kontnier said. “What a wonderful gift.”
His fellow trustees were just as appreciative.
“It should last 10 to 12 years,” Trustee Keith Burke said of the new Expedition. “I want to say thanks to the VFW for that.”
The police department will be putting the old 1996 GMC Jimmy, that the Expedition replaced, up for a private sale. Interested parties are to contact Burgess at the police department to place a sealed bid. The township will be accepting bids until 4 p.m. on May 19. The fire department is also placing two Ford Crown Victorias, a 1993 and 1995 model, up for bid as well. Interested parties are to contact Chief Mike Bahen at the fire station. The vehicles will be displayed outside of the township building during the week.
Also at the township meeting:
- The fire department had 10 calls for the month of April and the police department received 121 calls. The highest volume of reports related to incident reports with 39. There were also 27 traffic citations, nine accident reports, eight arrests, seven juvenile cases and five theft reports.
- The road department put up a no outlet sign on 7th Avenue and are continuing with their efforts toward the chip and seal project.