The Weldon Police Department will go with a retro look for the three new police cars the town board approved buying for this fiscal year.

The solid blue 2010 Dodge Chargers will have gold accents, which Mayor Julia Meacham said after tonight’s town board meeting is not only the town’s colors, but the colors of Weldon High School.

The town board approved the financing arrangement for the cars, going with BB&T, which offered a 2.64 percent interest rate over five years. The first payment will not be due until the fall of 2011, Town Administrator Phyllis Lee said. Payback on the vehicles will be $84,800.

New vehicles were Chief Mark Macon’s biggest need during budget negotiations earlier this year.

Macon said the vehicles are currently being equipped for police work. He said Corporal Chris Buffaloe designed three schemes and officers, as well as town board members, liked the retro mockup.

“We added a blend of everything,” Macon said following the meeting. “At one point Weldon Police Department cars were blue and had a patch on the door. Blue has always been a police color.”

Macon also believes the new color scheme, which will be added to other cars as they are bought, may change attitudes. “A lot of times when you change the look, you change perception.”

The new patrol cars will be assigned to Lieutenant Chris Davis, Sergeant Will Shaw and Buffaloe.

Other town police matters

In other matters concerning the police department tonight, the board approved Macon’s request to increase fees for wreck and police reports to $5. They were $1.

The town makes $1,400 a year off these reports, which are usually requested by attorneys and insurance firms. With the increase, the chief, “That’s more money the town could get.”

The board also approved speed bumps for Woodlawn Street following a request by Macon, who believes they will decrease speeding and careless and reckless driving on the street. He also requested two children playing signs, which was approved.