Kildeer wants Lake Zurich to care for police vehicles rather than local repair shops

Lake Zurich may enter into a deal to have its public works department perform routine maintenance and repairs on a neighboring village’s police squad cars, with charges similar to those of a private garage.

Village board trustees at a meeting Monday night will be asked to approve the proposal for the public works department to maintain Kildeer’s nine squad cars. Kildeer Village Administrator Michael Talbett said Thursday his town, which doesn’t have a public works facility, currently uses local repair shops to maintain and fix the police fleet.

But given Lake Zurich public works’ expertise in emergency vehicles, Talbett said, it makes sense for Kildeer to pay the neighboring village an initial $90-per-hour for labor, plus any costs for parts and supplies. He said it’s hoped Kildeer can strike other mutually beneficial agreements with Lake Zurich.

“In today’s new normal in municipalities, shared services are what everybody is looking for,” Talbett said.

Lake Zurich fleet services Superintendent Steven Paulus said in a memo that his town’s vehicles in need of maintenance and repairs would have priority over Kildeer’s. Paulus said Kildeer police cars would receive quality repairs and maintenance in a secured location.

Separately, Lake Zurich trustees Monday also will be asked to approve a two-year extension of an agreement allowing Kildeer and Hawthorn Woods to use the village’s fuel pumps at public works. Lake Zurich would receive fees of $2,650 from Hawthorn Woods and $1,600 from Kildeer, as well as continue passing along its fuel costs to the villages.

Twitter: @DHBobSusnjara