Algonquin could maintain Pingree Grove’s police cars

Algonquin’s public works department could soon begin performing maintenance work for Pingree Grove’s small police fleet, in addition to its current agreement to maintain vehicles for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills fire protection district.

Algonquin’s committee of the whole Tuesday recommended the village board approve an intergovernmental agreement with Pingree Grove, and the vote could come Tuesday.

Vince Olsen, public works’ superintendent for internal services, said servicing Algonquin’s needs remains his priority.

“If we can’t help them, they still have to have alternate resources, or I will personally make calls and help them find alternatives,” he said.

Pingree Grove’s police fleet consists of three marked Dodge Chargers and two unmarked Ford vehicles, Pingree Grove Police Chief Carol Lussky said.

Lussky said she called Algonquin in November for a service referral for one of Pingree Grove’s vehicles. When she spoke with Olsen, he suggested Algonquin could maintain the vehicles.

“We thought it would be an excellent resource because of their familiarity (with police cars),” she said.

Algonquin’s rates run $107 per hour, “slightly more” than what local dealerships and mechanics charge, Lussky said. “We felt ... it would be less cost in the end because it would take less time” to service the cars, she said.

Last fall, Algonquin entered into an agreement to maintain about 25 to 30 vehicles for the fire protection district, including ambulances, fire trucks, administrative vehicles, a couple of boats and trailers and a brush truck, Olsen said.