ADAMS TWP — The township Police Department has some changes coming following action by supervisors Monday night.

Police Chief Shawn Anglum asked supervisors to approve the purchase of two new police vehicles.

“They're both 2020 Ford Explorers,” Anglum said.

The vehicles will cost a combined $85,111. This includes all the materials needed for police operations.

“Lights, tires, everything we need in them,” Anglum said.

Supervisor Russell Ford clarified the purchase works out to about $42,556 per SUV. The cost per vehicle was about $26,000 five years ago, according to Ford.

“I think that's important,” Ford said. “I think ... a lot of residents think that we're cash-rich all the time here in Adams Township.”

He told residents costs associated with offering township services continue to “go up and up and up.”

The township earmarked $85,000 in the 2020 budget for new police vehicles.

“We're $111 over,” Anglum said.

“So you're going to have to get rid of the $111, or we're going to be over budget,” Ford joked.

“I'll take a look at it,” Anglum said.

The board unanimously approved the purchase, contingent upon a review of the invoices. Anglum told supervisors he has the invoices.

Supervisors also OK'd a motion to approve a police contract agreement with Valencia.

“I don't know if anyone really knows this,” Ford said. “We have been their police force for the last 21 years (at least).”

Adams police have been patrolling for the borough, according to Ford, under a contract that was decades old.

“Thank goodness we didn't destroy the document,” Ford said. “I think it was ... from 1984.”

Ford said the township decided to update the contract in 2019. Adams signed a one-year contract with Valencia while it dealt with its own police negotiations.

A new agreement has been signed. “This is an actual three-year agreement,” Ford said. “For 2020, '21 and '22.”

The agreement includes a $100 per month contract increase for each new year: Adams is charging Valencia $800 a month in 2020, $900 a month in 2021 and $1,000 a month in 2022.

“FYI, I think they were paying about $185 (a month) for about 20 some years,” Ford said.

The new agreement takes into account the time Adams police spend in Valencia, the number of calls officers respond to regularly, and wear and tear on township resources.

“We think this is good,” Ford said. “And we're helping our neighbors out also with Valencia Borough.”

Ford also said the township is finalizing the Adams police contract. “We're very, very close to finishing,” Ford said. “(It's) going to be a five-year contract.”

More information will be available when the contract is approved.

Ford concluded Monday night's meeting by asking Anglum to discuss plans that are being made to add a K-9 officer to the police department.

“We are in the very beginnings stages of getting ... our first K-9 here,” Anglum said. “Hopefully this year we'll be up and running.”

Anglum said the process of add a K-9 unit is long and technical. Officers need to volunteer to take responsibility for a dog and have to undergo an “intensive interview.”

“We just can't go and choose someone to be a K-9 (officer),” Anglum said. “My goal is by the end of this year that we will have that dog in service.”

The department will continue moving forward in the process, according to Anglum.