Fourth trailer to be used for S.R. police unit

Fourth trailer to be used for S.R. police unit

By takesha pettus

Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — An additional trailer will now be used to house the police dispatch unit during the municipal complex’s renovation.

Last week, Borough Council officials announced that they would be allowing the same firm that is doing renovation work on 61 Main St. to provide four trailers for the police and court departments during the expected $2.3 million renovation project.

The council had gone out to bid late last month for three trailers and received one bid back. That bid however, came back at $133,394, some $50,000 higher than allocated in the renovation budget, Councilman Tele Koukourdelis said.

At the council meeting Thursday, officials rejected the one available bid and instead hired Emera Construction for the trailers.

Under the new agreement, the borough will use four trailers instead of three. The fourth trailer will be used for the police dispatch unit, officials said.

The estimated cost for the trailers is $108,000.

Councilmen Tony Ciulla and Jim Jones were not present at the meeting.

Voting in absentia for the proposal was Councilman Shawn Haussermann.

Haussermann said he was not voting for the proposal because the old middle school, Thomas Street, had been approved last year to house the police during the renovation. Also, Haussermann said the cost of the trailers seemed to be increasing daily.

According to Haussermann, the trailers were estimated to cost $91,000 last Tuesday. By Thursday, the cost went up by $9,000.

The trailers will be temporarily placed in the parking lot of the Lincoln School, Prospect and Reid streets.

Former ad hoc committee member Raymond Eppinger questioned the council’s decision to place the trailers at the Lincoln School.

Last year, the municipal complex ad-hoc committee was told that the Lincoln School would not be a suitable place to house a new complex for several reasons. Lincoln School lies in a known flood zone, part of which also encompasses the parking lot.

"It is truly amazing how things change in this town," said Eppinger.

Borough Business Administrator Charles Kolakowski said the council is aware of the flood zone as is the police department, and is not worried.

"I have been there for every flood in the last seven years and the area where the trailers are being placed does not flood," said Kolakowski.

Eppinger also questioned the proposal due to heavy traffic in the area during rush hour.

"You’re putting the people of this town at risk," said Eppinger.

But Kolakowski said the police have considered the traffic situation in the area.

"Traffic was a concern, but the police feel that they can operate during the renovation," said Kolakowski.