Members of the Shawano County Public Safety Committee opened four bids for a new patrol boat for the sheriff’s department July 8 and encountered a wide range of prices.
Bids were received from American Marine and Motorsports in Shawano, Appleton Boats and two firms in Florida.
“I have not looked at them obviously, so I don’t know how they compare,” said Dana Ritchie, office manager at the sheriff’s department.
Chaves Brothers Management LLC in Florida bid $168,499, while the other Florida firm, Technology International, bid $62,300. Appleton Boats bid $64,909.50, and American Marine bid $64,744.
“We also want to make sure that everything on there is something that the DNR, through the program, would allow for purchase and be able to be reimbursed for that program,” Ritchie said.
Chairman Steve Natzke suggested Ritchie review the bids and make a recommendation at the Aug. 5 meeting. Committee members agreed.
It was in 2010 when the sheriff’s department bought the current boat for patrolling county waters, search and rescue efforts, and recovery cases.
It was purchased with a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant that reimbursed the county for the cost of the boat over the next five years.
The money now rests in a designated boat replacement fund, but nothing has been added to the fund since then. The balance is about $18,000. The remaining funds will come from a $200,000 Wisconsin Department of Administration grant received by the county.
The current boat and its trailer have a trade-in value of $8,500, Ritchie told the committee back in May.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
