FORT SCOTT, KS — The Fort Scott City Commission voted 4-1 during their July 7 meeting to spend $75,730 on an enclosed dock for the police department's lake patrol boat, a project staff say will speed up water rescues and make the lake patrol position easier to fill.
Officer Krueger, who oversees the department's lake patrol operation, brought the proposal to commissioners, presenting a single bid from Casper Enterprises LLC.
The dock will fully enclose the patrol boat and include a boat lift, which Krueger said accounts for roughly $10,000 of the total bid.
"Most docks, if you swim underneath them, you can get in. This one's going to have chain link under the water so you can't get in it," Krueger told commissioners.
Krueger said the structure would let the department keep its police boat in the water and ready to launch, rather than storing it on a trailer that has to be hitched and backed down a ramp before every call.
"If there's a lake rescue, we don't have to get somebody who can back a boat down to the water. It'll already be there. That'll make for swifter responses to anything out there," Krueger said.
The change would also free up the truck currently used to haul the boat trailer, which Krueger said law enforcement would like to convert into a patrol vehicle.
"It also helps with me being able to hire help for the lake patrol. Some people are disqualified because they simply can't back a trailer," Krueger said.
Commissioner Matthew Wells said the dock would address a complaint he has heard repeatedly from residents who live on the lake.
"One of the biggest complaints they've always had is the amount of traffic on the lake and no one out there to help police it," Wells said.
Commissioner Dancer asked Krueger whether the lake would be patrolled by code enforcement staff.
"Two of the three [lake patrol staff] are certified officers. We can go out there and give you eyes on the lake. We can make arrests on the lake. The other guy can enforce any ordinances he's well versed with," Krueger said.
Dancer then asked City Manager Brad Matkin whether the arrangement reflected a shift of duties out of the codes department, noting that lake mowing and trash pickup fall under the airport.
"Lake patrol has always been under law enforcement. The person who mows the lake and picks up trash, he reports to the airport," Matkin said.
Commissioners also questioned why the city sought only one bid. Krueger said he limited his search to vendors capable of doing the specialized work in person.
"I did do some research on it. Most of the other companies that specialize in this work are from a long ways away. There's nobody else local that does this kind of work," Krueger said.
Krueger told commissioners that a search would turn up few alternatives: some companies sell do-it-yourself dock kits rather than building on site, and others are hours away.
"And I definitely want to support local," Commissioner Julie Buchta said, adding that the bid appeared reasonable.
Mayor Salisbury moved to accept the proposal from Casper Enterprises LLC, submitted by Bo Casper, for $75,730. The commission confirmed the money would come from the city's Lake Improvement Fund, which has a balance of roughly $300,000.
The motion passed 4-1. Wells cast the dissenting vote.
"I have nothing against this quote. I would have liked to have seen at least a second quote, even though it would have been outside the area. So for that reason alone, I'm a no," Wells said.
No timeline for construction was discussed at Tuesday's meeting.
