The Vandalia Police and Fire Departments will take a shot at some big grants. At Monday night’s meeting, the Vandalia City Council approved an agreement for grant writing services between the city and South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission and a one time cost of $1500 for the grant writing. The grant the City is working to get is thru the USDA and is for a new squad car for the Vandalia Police Department and new air tanks for the Vandalia Fire Department. The cost of a new squad car would be $25,000 and then several more thousand for the air tanks. Police Chief Jeff Ray said the grant is still available until next spring and may require matching funds from the city. Mayor Rick Gottman also added the City of St. Elmo had gotten a squad car thru this grant.