The Clarkson Police Department is finally getting a new car, at a cost of over $26,000.

Officials approved the motion on July 13 to purchase a white Dodge Charger from Freedom Dodge in Lexington.

The down payment for the patrol vehicle will come from money received through House Bill 413. The rest of the money will be borrowed from a local bank.

City Clerk and Treasurer Alicia Hayes explained the base package for the Dodge Charger is $19,660. That does not include the $985 worth of options on the car.

She added that additional modifications needed to be made to the vehicle, which included having lights installed and a cage, dividing the front and back seats. The estimated cost for those improvements will be over $5,000.

Hayes explained that it takes 60-90 days to receive a new patrol car, once all paperwork is complete.

Clarkson Police Chief Jeff King said the current patrol car has over 185,000 miles on it.

Hayes said the amount of the money that the city has had to invest in maintenance for the car recently would easily pay for a car payment.

The city receives money quarterly from the state for House Bill 413. Checks vary from $2,100-2,500 a quarter.

“I am expecting a check soon,” Hayes advised. “The would make the total nest egg we have to over $6,500 (House Bill 413 money).”

In other business on July 13

• Officials are going to implement maximum load restrictions for trucks hauling concrete in the city.

A new development property, Green Briar Subdivision, has already received damages to its road, because of concrete delivery trucks. The same goes for other city streets.

Hayes said once restrictions were set, that signs needed to be installed with restrictions on them, and all concrete companies had to be notified via a certified letter.

• Commissioners refused to accept an existing bid for a new fire truck, and accept an amended bid from the same company.

Louisiana company Ferrara did not meet proper specifications for the truck they were building for the city. They had to make certain changes to the bid before the city could approve the purchase.

Clarkson Fire Chief Andy Cain explained the bid initially did not include four-wheel-drive and the correct pump for the new truck.

• A countywide mock chemical spill exercise is scheduled for August 13 in Clarkson.

Crop Productions, located on West Main Street in Clarkson, will be the site of the disaster drill.

Mayor Bonnie Henderson said all officials would meet on August 6 for a planning session about the exercise.