Officers with the Polk County Police Department will soon be riding in new patrol cars.

Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd said the four new cars, approved by the Polk County Board of Commissioners, will be replacement vehicles.

Dodd said the new cars will not only replace those with high milage but save

on maintenance bills needed to keep an older car rolling.

"It will also be a safety factor for our officers," he added.

The four new 2009 Ford Crown Victoria vehicles will be purchased at a cost of $21,722.64 each from Riverside Auto Group. Total cost for the cars is $86,890.56, according to Commissioner Larry Reynolds, chairman, bid committee.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of four new cars (Crown Vics) for the sheriff's department. The low bid, submitted by Riverside Auto Group, was $21,168.64 per vehicle. Total cost is $63,505.92.

In addition, the board approved a low bid of $14,930 each for two new Ford Fusion S vehicles to be used by the Polk County Tax Assessor's Department. Total cost for these vehicles is $29,860.

Total cost for all the vehicles, paid from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), is $180,256.48.

"We (board members) wish to thank the tax payers of Polk for approving the SPLOST, because with it, these purchases were possible," Reynolds said.

He also mentioned that bids were solicited from area pharmacies for providing pharmacy medications, supplies and services for the EMS Department.

From the bids received, a proposed yearly cost was projected using the unit prices submitted by the bidders and an average monthly pharmacy items used over the past 12 months.

The lowest proposal for providing Pharmacy Medications was submitted by Floyd Medical Center and the lowest for providing pharmacy related supplies was submitted by Southeastern Emergency Equipment.

The anticipated savings to the County as a result of the bid solicitation is about $60,000 per year.