Danville Police Department will trade in six of its older vehicles for seven new ones. Danville City Commission approved the plan, which will cost $172,030, on Monday.

Danville Police Chief Tony Gray said the police department solicited their usual bids for vehicles. 

According to the resolution, Stuart Powell was the only car dealership that submitted a bid for a total of $172,030, which buys the police department seven 2017 Ford Explorers. 

Gray said the police department is getting one more vehicle because a vehicle was lost in an accident a couple years ago.

Gray said there’s no benefit to keeping the current vehicles due to their high mileage, age and maintenance costs.

Gray said the SUVs will provide more space for technical equipment and passengers than regular police cruisers. SUVs are also sturdier, he added.

Commissioner Rick Serres said SUVs are better cars when it comes to inclement weather, too.

“They are pretty darn reliable as long as you keep up with maintenance,” Serres said. 

Other business

In other business, Danville City Commission presented a proclamation in honor of Vanessa Ramos, who won MAC Pageants’ Miss American Preteen 2017 title. 

Ramos is a sixth grade student at Boyle County Middle School. She is on the girls soccer team at BCMS. 

According to the proclamation, she was chosen to represent Kentucky in the pageant due to her outstanding accomplishments, community service and being a role model for others in the community. 

The pageant was held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, last month. She competed against 75 other girls from all over the United States.