The Dowagiac Police Department will soon have a new addition to its fleet of vehicles.

The Dowagiac City Council approved the purchase of a new squad car, a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, for the city law enforcement department during its meeting Monday night at city hall. The vehicle, purchased from Dowagiac C. Wimberley Chevrolet, will cost the city $23,228, and will be paid for with funds taken from money set aside in the city’s motor pool, said City Manager Kevin Anderson.

Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald will primarily use the vehicle while on duty, with the Equinox replacing a 2012 Chevrolet Impala currently employed by the department. The older car will be transferred to the city’s code enforcement department to replace a 2006 Impala, which will be traded in, according to a memo distributed to the council.

“We just moved these cars through the chain,” Anderson said. “This got started because the code enforcement car is basically dead at the moment. Historically we have always taken the chief’s old car and moved it into the code enforcement division.”

According to a memo by Grinnewald, the police chief priced out several potential vehicles for purchase, including the Equinox, a newer Impala model, a Ford Escape and a Taurus. Of these choices, the Equinox came out cheapest.

The chief also received prices from both Wimberley and another dealership located in Three Rivers, with the former lowering its price by $300 to match that offered by the latter, the memo states.

Speaking during the public comment portion of Monday’s council meeting was Dowagiac’s Ron Leatz, who provided an update on his recently launched campaign to raise money for repairs for downtown train depot’s outdoor lightning system, which has recently been taken down due to wiring damage. The city treasurer, who is collecting money on behalf of the campaign, has received more than $1,000 worth of donations, about $4,000 shy of Leatz’s goal of $5,200  needed to pay for the necessary repairs, Leatz said.

“I think everybody in the community, plus those in neighboring communities, think it is a good idea to light up that depot,” Leatz said.