WILTON — Selectpersons on Tuesday approved the purchase of a new police cruiser and a contract to draw plans for the recreation department’s new office building.

Police Chief Heidi Wilcox asked for permission to solicit bids for a new cruiser to replace one with 116,000 miles.

Town Manager Rhonda Irish and Wilcox will open the bids and present their recommendations at the April 3 board meeting.

In her quarterly report to the board, Wilcox said the department has been “quite busy,” with more than 1,000 calls the past ten weeks.

Fire Chief Sonny Dunham also presented his quarterly report, saying fire calls are up 20 percent over last year. Sixty-nine have been answered since Jan. 1. Dunham said there have been numerous structure fires, as well as chimney fires.

The town has 25 active firefighters, and Dunham said he’s proud of how far the town has come with its firefighting force.

In other business, the board approved a proposal from Diversified Drafting for $2,500 to create construction drawings and building specifications for the recreation department’s new office building.

Lastly, Irish said the Forster mill demolition is “moving along” and the traffic problems caused by people pulling over to watch the process have mostly ceased.

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