Police Academy Gym Contract Awarded

CREST HAVEN – The county Public Safety Training Academy will get a $1.7-million gymnasium, approved by freeholders March 24.  
The contract for the project was awarded to Straga Brothers Inc. to erect the facility for the Police Training Academy, according to a resolution passed unanimously by the board via a telephonic meeting. 
During the day’s earlier caucus, Vice Director Leonard Desiderio told the board that five years ago, the Academy had failed a Police Training Commission inspection because the gym was torn and uneven.
Because of that condition, Desiderio said some recruits had been injured due to the floor’s condition. 
He added that, five years ago, it was estimated to cost $200,000 to fix the floor. The facility will be pole-barn construction.
Desiderio noted that the County Prosecutor’s Office had been seeking storage space, and the present gym would be used for that purpose. 
Fleet Rental
By resolution, freeholders decided to let Enterprise Fleet Management provide vehicles to the county. The vehicles will include passenger vehicles up to light and medium duty trucks.
Enterprise will be responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of those vehicles, as well as internal management of the vehicles. 
Purchasing Agent Kevin Lare told the board that the present system of purchasing and upkeep was becoming burdensome.
“It’s always a challenge and debate every year who gets and doesn’t get vehicles, and I end up being the bad guy.”
The five-year agreement will ensure that local dealers and garages get to service the vehicles. 
The resolution noted that Enterprise FM Trust, was competitively awarded a fleet management contract through Sourcewell, “and was recommended as the best option for the county based on research of county stakeholders.”