By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

In an effort to curtail expenses and streamline city operations, the Port Arthur City Council voted Tuesday to spend $161,320 on tracking devices for fleet vehicles.

“This will allow us to keep track of where our fleet is and to save money on fuel costs,” Ross Blackketter, city of Port Arthur director of public works, said.

The city will purchase a global positioning system from Cell More Communications of Houston to provide the fleet tracking system for the city’s 218 designated fleet vehicles.

Blackketter said the new system has several advantages, including keeping better tabs on where the fleet is.

Because the system has tracking abilities, Blackketter said fleet vehicle drivers will be more prone to go straight to the jobs assigned, and not make unauthorized deters. The decreased mileage is expected to save on fuel costs and help employees make better use of their work day.

“Employees will go straight to their jobs and not waste time,” Blackketter said.

The system has the capability to determine each vehicle’s speed — a feature that can help determine where a vehicle is.

Obviously, if a vehicle is traveling 65 mph, they are most likely driving on the highway rather than city streets, Blackketter said.

Information generated from the equipment goes back to the communications company, which, in turn, generates reports for the city to study.

Initially, 13 companies submitted responses from the city’s Request for Proposals. Of those, two companies were asked to provide equipment for five vehicles for testing and evaluation.

Blackketter said the test equipment had already proved to be a valuable tool in streamlining operations.

Funding for the equipment was included in this fiscal year budget under capital improvements.

Other improvements approved by the City Council Tuesday include upgrades to the city’s elevator system.

The capital project is expected to cost $225,498. Thyssendrupp Elevator of Houston was awarded a contract to modernize the city’s two elevators.

City Council also awarded a contract to Long Architects and G&G; Enterprises for construction of a new gymnasium/multi-purpose building as an addition to the Port Arthur Recreation and Senior Citizen Center.

Plans are for the center, at 1308 Ninth Ave., to receive a competitive level gymnasium, complete showers/restrooms, storage and space for other program uses.

skoonce@panews.com