Ark Valley News - Park City moves to cover police mobile video equipment from repair costs

Park City moves to cover police mobile video equipment from repair costs
By David Dinell
Last Updated: June 19, 2015

Members of the Park City City Council want to ensure that an expenditure of $48,000 for mobile video equipment for the city's police department is protected. In that regard, they approved spending $9,105 from the Special Drug and Alcohol Fund to purchase extended warranties on the equipment at their June 9 meeting.

The video units come with a one-year warranty, but this action makes them covered for five years, said Chief Phil Bostian, who briefed the council on the matter. While the cost of the warranties is almost 20 percent of their initial cost, the high prices of parts and repairs means that if it's used several times, it will pay for itself, and perhaps more, he said.

The systems' DVR is most likely to go out and a refurbished system costs $2,500 while a new one goes for $4,800. Another pricey item is the camera, which costs $1,245.

The warranties don't cover units that are vandalized or otherwise broken with intent, but because they're in the patrol cars, that's unlikely to happen, he added.

The units record things such as traffic stops and arrests and are valuable in court proceedings, especially DUI cases, and in any possible lawsuits the city may be involved in, officials say.

The five-year coverage will serve for the life of their technology, he said.

"After five to seven years, the technology advances so that they have served their useful life," he said.

The Drug and Alcohol Fund has about $78,000 in it and grows by about $15,000 to $16,000 a year from a tax on liquor sales. The use of the money is restricted by the state, but police equipment and expenses related to the gear, such as the warranties, is allowed by it.

In another matter taken up by the council and related to the police, it approved that the department have certain reimbursement funds returned. The issue is strictly a bookkeeping one that was brought to the attention of city officials by an auditor to make it in compliance with law.

In other action, the council:

•Listened to a report by Rick Norman, director of public works. The department continued its seasonal mowing and trimming. It also replaced trees on 61st Street. Norman reported that six trees have died and that staff have been watching others for adverse health signs. The department also worked on berms in Poston Park. In seasonal work, the department is placing mosquito briquettes in ditches to fight the bugs and will start fogging as necessary when weather conditions are right. The street department continued its patching work. Year to date, it has patched 1,200 square feet. For the water/sewer department, the average work order per day was 19.

•Approved appropriations from May 27 to June 9 of $114,239 with an addendum.

•Approved additional procedures from city auditors to assist in adjusting the books for 2014 year end procedures at a cost of $5,150.

•Approved appointing Karen Haughawout to the Convention and Tourism Committee to fill an unexpired term. She has lived in Park City for 15 years and is a resident of Longmont Street. "I believe in giving back to the community," she said in her application to the board.

•Discussed the council participation in the Salute to Freedom Fourth of July Celebration. They agreed to appear together as a unit and that it would show the community their "cohesiveness." "All together is a great thing," said Mayor Ray Mann. Mann said he would be buying candy at his expense to pass out and other council members said they would, too. George Capps asked animal owners to be courteous during the event and clean up after their pets. He also reminded people that it was a city ordinance.

No executive session was held. Two council members, John Lehrherr and Tom Jones, were absent, along with City Administrator Jack Whitson and city attorney Douglas Moshier.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 23 at City Hall.