New Lenox Police Department Secures $60,000 in Mobile Vehicle Barriers for Summer Events

New Lenox Village Board of Trustees Meeting | April 13, 2026

Article Summary: To enhance public safety at the Village Commons and during large-scale community events, the New Lenox Village Board authorized a $60,000 purchase of specialized rapid-deployment vehicle barriers for the Police Department, waiving formal bidding to ensure prompt delivery.

Security Barriers Key Points:

• Equipment Specs: The Village is purchasing 50 Pentagon F-18 vehicle barriers at $1,200 each.

• Rapid Deployment: The specialized barriers do not require heavy machinery to move, allowing individual officers to quickly mobilize and reposition them.

• Expedited Purchase: The Board waived the formal bidding process to secure the barriers in four to six weeks, just in time for the summer entertainment season.

The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, April 13, 2026, unanimously approved a $60,000 purchase to supply the New Lenox Police Department with advanced mobile vehicle barriers designed to secure large crowds during the upcoming summer concert season.

Police Chief Micah Nuesse requested the authorization to pre-order 50 Pentagon F-18 vehicle barriers at a cost of $1,200 each. Although the purchase will be paid out of the newly adopted Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget, the authorization was needed immediately due to manufacturing lead times.

“These barriers stabilize our rapid deployment where no heavy equipment is required,” Chief Nuesse explained. “The amount of barriers we’re looking to purchase will give a complete Commons shutdown during a large event, and also can be used on any other events as they’re very mobile and can be set up with individual people and used in many different places.”

Because the Pentagon F-18 represents a highly specific, proprietary security product necessary for crowd control, the Board voted to formally waive the competitive bidding process.

Nuesse noted the lead time on the barriers is four to six weeks. By placing the pre-order now, the department ensures the security perimeter will be fully operational by the time the summer entertainment season begins. The Village will not take possession of the equipment or process the invoice until the new budget year officially commences.

Both the waiver of the bidding process and the final purchase contract were approved via 6-0 roll call votes.