Mopar cop car returns—three new Chargers coming to RPD

Self resigns position on council following residence change, departure from ward
 
The Republic Police Department has decided to return to Dodge Chargers for cruiser use considering the cars low cost and mechanical improvements. Republic Police Lieutenant Jamie Burks was on hand at the May 18 Republic City Council meeting to handle questions regarding his request for three new Dodge Charger police cars.
Burks said that while other options, such of Tahoes, Explorers and Durangos were fine, they were roughly $10,000 more in price.
Burks added that although the department has had some mechanical issues with Chargers, they've long been corrected by the manufacturer.
Burks best bids for the all-wheel-drive rigs came from Lou Fusz Ford out of Chesterfield, at $28,754 each. The cruisers will eventually be equipped with all the necessary state-of-the-art doodads for an additional $68,000. The total cost of the overall purchase will come in at $154,262.
The council passed the resolution with a 7-0 vote.

Conference room
The council also voted in 7-0 favor of updating the former council chambers at Republic City Hall. As all-new chambers will be put to use during the first June meeting at the Republic Police Department, the former chambers will be remodeled into a conference room.
The future construction received six sealed bids, the least of which came from RIO Contracting at $63,340. RIO was awarded the bid and will have 90 days to complete the job.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, a bid from Construction Services Group came in at $109,905 for the same task.    

Self check-out
Republic Council Member Brandon Self, Ward 1, officially resigned his position on the council at the beginning of the meeting, as he no longer lives in Ward 1. Self was thanked for his years of valuable service by Mayor Matt Russell, as Russell presented Self with his council nameplate. At the end of the meeting, former fellow Council Member Eric Franklin echoed Russell's sentiments.
"I'm going to be sad to see Brandon go, but I understand his situation," Franklin said.