NORWAY — Almost three years behind in its police vehicle replacements, the Norway City Council on Wednesday discussed how the city should address its aging fleet.

In the past, the city had received USDA Rural Development grants to cover about 60% of the purchase. Despite being approved to receive the grants the past two years, the funds didn’t come through.

The department now has three vehicles — a 2021 Dodge Charger with 46,000 miles, a 2019 with 84,000 miles and the oldest a 2018 with 144,000 miles.

Council Member Jeff Muraro commented that 84,000 miles on a vehicle is not that much in this day and age. But Norway Chief of Police Patrick Wilkey noted that police vehicles also spend many hours idling.

City Manager Dan Stoltman said $75,000 was budgeted this year in case grant funding did not come through. The city has applied for the Rural Development grant and is awaiting word if they will get any funds.

Stoltman suggested that even though the council has in the past two years approved purchasing a pickup truck provided the grant came through, perhaps a less-expensive Ford Explorer SUV could be purchased and the pickup could wait.

LaFontaine Ford of Lansing has quoted a price of $62,455 for an outfitted Explorer. The purchase would be through MiDeal, the state’s extended purchasing program that allows Michigan cities, townships, villages, counties, school districts, universities, colleges and nonprofit hospitals to buy goods and services from state contracts.

Mayor Candy Brew was concerned with buying from a downstate dealer, as the Dodge Chargers the city now uses have to be brought to Green Bay for service work. Stoltman said the Explorer could be serviced at the local dealership.

Council members agreed they should move forward with a purchase in the coming months.

Council Member Bret Kraemer said he would like local dealerships to be given the opportunity to place a bid. Kraemer also said he would like to see some prices on the pickup truck option as well.

The police vehicle matter with more purchasing options will be brought back to the council at the next meeting.

In other business, the council:

— Accepted and placed on file the city’s audit for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The audit was presented to the council in December by Scott Sternhagen of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP of Green Bay, Wis., but no action was taken to accept the audit at that meeting.

In December it was reported that the city received an unmodified opinion, the highest rating a municipality can receive.