Town council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, March 1 meeting to award the tender for two new 3/4 ton trucks to Stettler GM at a cost of $64,928 before taxes.
The town budgeted $80,000 in its budget for the two vehicles, one a truck with a six-foot box, the other with an eight-foot box.
Stettler GM's winning bid had a cost of $31,984.25 for the six-foot box, and $32,944.25 for the eight-foot box. At $69,864, Stettler Dodge had the second lowest bid. Aspen Ford came in at the most expensive at $71,954.50.
With the additional costs of beacon, radio, toolbox, headache rack and decals, the two trucks are expected to cost very close to the $80,000 budgeted for the vehicles.
Before voting on the tender, council inquired why the town would be buying a truck with a six-foot box, as it was shorter and less able to haul some of the town's equipment.
CAO Greg Switenky explained that the town tries to have a variety of vehicles in its fleet, and while the trucks may start with one department now, in their lifetime they may end up assigned to multiple departments.
RCMP detachment commander speaks to 2016 plans
Sgt. Phil Penny, Stettler RCMP detachment commander, came to the meeting to present the detachment's plans for the coming year.
In the past years, the detachment has focused on substance abuse (both drug and alcohol) and traffic offences (speeding and impaired).
For 2016, Penny said the detachment will be focusing on traffic again, looking at impaired driving and a wide range of provincial enforcement. To do this, the detachment will be increasing check stops, and keep on high alert for impaired driving and traffic safety act violations.
Police and community relations is also a priority in 2016, with crime prevention and education being a focus, as well as the rebuilding of the COP program. The COP information meeting earlier in the year was well attended, but the rebuilding of the community program was delayed as the constable in charge was on vacation, and then on training.
The police are also working with community businesses to help prevent theft, offering up suggestions to help discourage and catch bad behaviour.
The other focus for the police this year will be organized crime, Penny said. It's hoped that police will be able to continue to identify and dismantle drug-related operations, such as the marijuana grow operation near Erskine and the methamphetamine lab north of Stettler.