Posted 02/13/09 by KTUL
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0209/594867.htmlTurns out the City has been sitting on approximately $3 million dollars worth of new vehicles that were appropriated for the Tulsa Police Department. Some have been on the storage lot since at least October 2008.
In a related storiy that aired this evening, Chief Ron Palmer when questioned by KTUL, stated that these vehicles were awaiting installation of equipment before being put into service. He also stated that the vehicles were 2008s and 2009s and that shipments were received at various times but that the department responsible for installing the equipment can not turn them over fast enough. The story further suggested that even before these vehicles are all put into service, delivery of the next years appropriations would start.
Question: Who handles contracts for procurement and why do they not coordinate efforts among the various departments to ensure that any procurement is outfitted in a timely fashion so as to not have taxpayer dollars sitting in a lot and idle for now going on 4 month or more?
If there is a shortage of staff, why not purchase and allocate in a more effective and scheduled manner, reducing the order to a level that is commensurate with the ability to install the equipment?
Better question, why not farm the installation out to other providers if the City's department can not keep up and get these idle vehicles out where they can do some good?