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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Department Letter- Radar Jan 1973POLICE DEPARTMENT VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS is TO: Hon. Frederick G. Marcham, Mayor Members of the Board of Trustees Village of Cayuga Heights SUBJECT: Radar We are presently experiencing maintenance problems with our radar unit. We have been told that the klystron portion of the radar needs to be replaced at a cost in excess of $300.00. In the way of history, the Village purchased its first radar for $995.00 in June 1962. This was one of the first radar units available and it was in service until October 1966, a period of about 4 years. The Village then purchased its second radar unit for $1295.00 less $300.00 trade -in of the old unit and this radar has been in use for over 6 years. Since 1962, these radar units have been responsible for over 2500 speeding arrests and a remarkably low traffic accident record for the Village. Radar is used daily and it has been proven that a constant and even traffic enforcement program is essential in maintaining a low accident record. We are one of the few communities in the state that can claim such a record. I have investigated radar units currently available. Many improvements have been made in the past two or three years in the circuitry and reliability of new units. Kustom Signals, Inc., Chanute, Kansas, presently manufactures a radar unit which eliminates the klystron portion of the radar which has been the major source of maintenance problems in the older units. The Kustom radar also has an added feature in that it can clock speeders while the patrol car is in motion, thereby allowing the officer to attend to other patrol duties while still monitoring traffic. The Kustom radar costs $2185.00 less trade -in of $300.00 for our old radar, or $1885.00. They also have a leasing policy whereby this radar can be leased for a minimum period of 3 months at $71.62 per month. If the radar is purchased at the end of the leasing period, the leasing cost of $214.86 is applied toward the purchase price. The estimated useful life of this radar is 10 years. The police budget does not provide for such a lease or purchase at this time nor does it provide for the major repair of the old unit. I would like to recommend that you consider the lease and purchase of the Kustom radar unit as opposed to repairing the old radar which has seen its better days. You may wish to consider the use of a portion of the Federal Revenue Sharing funds for such a purchase inasmuch as the present budget does not provide for it. This falls within the allowable expenditures for such funds. • I will appreciate your decision as to whether we may purchase the new unit or if you wish to appropriate an emergency expenditure necessary for repair of the old radar unit. Respectfully, • Harlin R. McEwen Chief of Police