Knox Council Shifts Funds for K-9 Vehicle

 The Knox City Police Department has funds lined up to buy a patrol vehicle for their K-9 officer. Mayor Dennis Estok says the Chevrolet Tahoe to accommodate the dog and equipment carries a price tag of about $40,000. Last week the Knox Redevelopment Commission pledged $20,000 from the Tax Increment Financing account toward the purchase. The council’s share of the money will come from the city’s share of riverboat gambling proceeds and the Economic Development Income Tax fund.

Specifically Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston says the $10,000 from the riverboat fund will be pulled from appropriations for events ($3,500), the farmer’s market ($500) and insurance ($6,000). The $10,000 from the Economic Development Income Tax fund will be taken from the engineering line item.

Estok says Knox City Police K-9 Officer Chad Dulin’s current patrol vehicle will be returned to the department’s fleet rotation. The car car has 32,000 miles on it. Estok says Knox City Police Chief Harold Smith has advised the department will not need to consider another vehicle purchase for another three years. The mayor says extending the fleet rotation will save the city money in the long run.

The Knox City Council unanimously approved the funding sources to buy the Chevrolet Tahoe for the K-9 officer. The dog and training are being paid for with donated funds.