Butler City Council on Thursday bought two new police department cars that should be ready for use in April.

Council unanimously voted to accept a $52,208 bid from Tri-Star Motors to buy two 2019 Ford Interceptor sedans through the Costars state cooperative purchasing program.

The city has already obtained the cars and sent them to Ibis Tek to be equipped for police use. Council accepted Ibis Tek's bid of $20,283 to do the work.

Mayor Ben Smith said three police vehicles purchased last year are in service and the two new cars should be on the road in April.

Police Chief Robert O'Neill said the department eventually will need a second vehicle equipped for use with a canine.

The department is planning to transfer the canine equipment from a vehicle that is no longer in service to a new vehicle for one officer-canine team, but another vehicle is needed for the second team.

O'Neill said he wants to use money from the canine fund to buy the second vehicle because there is no money in the city budget for another new police vehicle, but the police dogs have to be purchased first.

He said he hopes the vehicles and dogs are in place by summer.

In other police news, council approved the promotion of Patrol Officer Caleb Forsythe to sergeant effective Feb. 3.

“He'll do a super job,” O'Neil said.

City officials said they are grateful for the many private donations to the police and fire departments.

The canine fund has $53,000 in contributions, including $15,000 donated this week by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 249 in Butler.

Smith said the fire department received $10,000 donations from the Logan Trust and the Evelyn Rodgers Trust and $500 from the Butler Elks Lodge for equipment and supplies.

Solicitor Tom Breth donated just under $500 for the purchase of a security camera in the police department, Smith said.

Diehl Automotive donated $8,600 that was added to a state grant to buy new protective vests for the entire police department, O'Neill said.

In unrelated business, council hired Maher Duessel Certified Public Accountants to conduct audits for fiscal years 2018 through 2020 at a cost of $17,000, $17,350 and $17,700 in each year, respectively.