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MARCH 1998

Chief's wheels cause sparks
SUNNYSIDE (3-9-98)--For the past eight years, Sunnyside has paid Police Chief Wallace Anderson a monthly car allowance. It's his car, but he uses it for police operations when needed.

The city provides a radio, siren and other stuff, but that's all. The chief pays for his collision insurance, maintenance, wear and tear, etc.

In 1995, the allowance went to $375 a month for three years, and last night was the time to discuss it again.

It was revealed early in the evening that Capt. Mike Alvord gets $565 a month for his wheels.

Questioning this policy Monday night were this year's four new councilmen--Mike Aguirre, Mike Farmer, Don Vlieger, and Chad Werkhoven.

Why do Anderson and Alvord need such an arrangement?

"When we're out of the area I can--or he can-- respond to a particular incident," Anderson said.

Don Vlieger said "a marked vehicle is a deterrant (to crime). And if you'd had a marked vehicle during an off-duty stop you made, we Chad Werkhoven asked the chief how many times he's answered a code three from his home.

The chief didn't have the numbers, the mileage or costs and wasn't prepared for the questions--it was the first he knew the questions would be asked in a public meeting.

"Let's get the bang for our buck," Vlieger continued. "Let's get a marked vehicle and pay the costs."

 

Interim City Manager Mark Kunkler said the car policy is that of past councils.

"We need to look at this," said Councilman Mike Farmer. "How many times is the captain having to respond?"

 

Councilman Roy Anciso, a member of the "old" council, jumped to the chief's defense, and Alvord's. "The Chief is picking up all the wear and tear on his vehicle, and paying all costs," Anciso said.

Councilman Mike Farmer said the chief is "not doing it out of the goodness of his heart. If it cost him, he wouldn't do it," Farmer said.

With those words, Gary Cole, retired Sunnyside fire chief, bounced out of his chair in the audience and strode, red-faced, to the podium.

To Farmer, Cole said,"If you don't like what he's doing, change it. But don't take a personal shot at him in a public meeting."

"I wasn't," Farmer said.

"Well, it sure sounds like it back there where I'm sitting," Cole said.

 

Regarding the chief's car allowance, Councilman Errol Brown said "We discussed this in '95. It was a good decision then, and it's a good one now. It's still a good deal for the city. If we were paying all the costs we'd be paying a lot more than $375 a month, let me tell you," Brown said.

Chad Werkhoven said, "All I want to see are the numbers. I want to know why it's a good deal for us," he said.

At that point, City Finance Director Bud Schatz jumped into the fray, and chewed his bosses out for bringing up items in public without first consulting city staff.

"The council should work with department heads and the city manager. Instead, we get blindsided. The chief just got blindsided. We can't respond intelligently," Schatz said. "A lot of things are done for the benefit of the city. I'm certainly not going to (spend money) unless it's a good deal for the city. I could have put the numbers together," he said.

Then he got on the "new" council's procedures. Regarding city staff, Schatz said, "I'm at a loss as to what we're supposed to do. We look for direction from the council, and we don't get it."

"We're trying the best we can...All this comes up during meetings...Now we're so backlogged we can't get things accomplished. I'm getting to the point where I don't even want to respond anymore", Schatz said.

While Chief Wallace Anderson took his lumps in silence, Councilman Roy Anciso spoke up.

About Schatz' statements, Anciso said "I couldn't agree more. If you have questions, ask staff," he said. Anciso indicated the city has more important things to do than discuss dollars city staff spend.

"We have annexations coming in. These bring many dollars to the city. And here we are, nit-picking over one or two percent here and there," Anciso said.

"These people (city staff) are on our side. They're not the enemy. Comon people, wake up!" Anciso fairly shouted at his newly elected colleagues.

Newly elected Don Vlieger wasn't perturbed by the decibels darting his way from staff and "old" councilmen.

"Well, last fall's elections show the people don't agree with you, and are with us in bringing these matters into the light. There will be a period where we have tension, because we're not doing things the old way anymore. But I fully expect tensions will die down after awhile and the city of Sunnyside will move toward great days ahead," Vlieger said.

Cost estimates for a fully equipped, maintained, and insured cruiser for the chief were around $50,000.

"Pull an older one off the line," Vlieger suggested.

Said Werkhoven, "We want to know how many times the chief (and Alvord) respond to emergencies. And we want to know the costs of the present situation compared to that of a cruiser."

In other business, the council: