The City of Kenai will use $164,136 from their Fleet Replacement Fund to purchase and equip three Ford F-150 4x4s for use as police vehicles following a unanimous city council vote in favor last Wednesday.

According to a memo from Kenai Police Department Police Chief Dave Ross to the Kenai City Council, the police department is scheduled to replace three vehicles in the current budget year.

The three trucks will be purchased from Kendall Ford and are expected to cost around $94,689. The other $69,447 budgeted will be used to turn the “bare pickups” into police vehicles, though it is possible all of the allocated monies will not be spent.

“A long term plan was completed in conjunction with the creation of the Fleet Replacement Fund,” Ross wrote in the memo. “In that plan, the Police Department will utilize more pickup trucks in order for those vehicles to have greater long-term use for the City in other departments after their useful life as an emergency vehicle.”

Council member Teea Winger expressed particular support for the police department being equipped with vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Winger said she has often seen police officers respond to moose crashes who are unable to move the moose off the road.

“I will often strap the moose and pull it off the road, so I do appreciate the fact that we’ll be sending these responding officers out in something that could speed up the process and be more efficient for the people,” Winger said.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.