August 19, 2015 - The Timpson City Council voted to approve the reduction in force to a four-man police force at their meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2015 by way of an unexpected vote from councilman George Grace.
Following an in-depth meeting filled with input from citizens, and business owners for and against the reduction in force of the police department, with the majority against the reduction, Councilman Grace threw the RIF (Reduction in Force) train off its tracks by voting for the four-man department.
A five-man police force was no longer being considered as, according to Mayor Debra Pate Smith, the city could not afford to cover a fifth officer; however, it could afford a four-man police force with the proposed budget reflecting a positive balance for the city.
The initial four-man motion made by Councilman Kyle Allen and seconded by Councilwoman Yvonne Ramsey failed. Council members Ronnie Wolfe, Janell Baker and Grace have all expressed their preference in the past to reduce the police force to a three-man department. Two three-man budgets were presented to the council for approval at the Tuesday meeting and Janell Baker made a motion to approve a three-man department which removed Chief Kent Graham from scheduling the officers and putting the responsibility on the shoulders of the council; however, her motion received no second and it failed as well.
Grace put forth a motion to keep a four-man department and allow the council to interview whomever would be hired on the police department. The totality of Grace's motion could not be put into effect and he amended his motion to have a four-man police department and stated it may take a different motion to allow the council the right to interview anyone that would be hired and to amend the handbook.
Seeing as the handbook was a separate issue from the number of officers in the department, the motion for a four-man department was considered and approved with council members Grace, Ramsey and Allen voting in favor of the reduction to a four-man department. The question remains as to why neither Councilman Wolfe, nor Councilman Grace provided a second to Baker's motion when a three-man department has been the apparent desire of council members Grace, Baker and Wolfe.
Another issue for the council in relation to the police department has been a police department account, which was approved at the last council meeting which had a quorum. The Tuesday agenda included a resolution of authority and contact information for the Austin Bank Police Account, adding Mayor Debra Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Wolfe, City Secretary Leslie Leathers and Municipal Court Clerk Paula Mullins. *****To open the account an opening balance would be necessary and required to be included with the motion was a directive on where the funds should come from.
Councilman Wolfe suggested using funds from the police department forfeiture fund account to open the account. Mayor Smith asked Chief Graham to explain the impossibility of transferring forfeiture funds or donated funds to a separate police account.
"Forfeiture funds have to be used to buy police equipment and things of that nature," said Chief Graham. "They cannot be co-mingled."
Mayor Smith stated the city received a letter to that effect from the District Attorney. Councilman Wolfe suggested putting municipal court funds into the account and made a motion to approve resolution 08-10-2015-01 and open the account with funds generated by the court starting immediately or this month. He also added the money should be put into the account as it is paid and any other monies generated by the police department.
Councilman Allen asked Councilman Wolfe for what the money is going to be used to pay. Wolfe stated they would be used to pay for the expenses of the police department and he confirmed with Mayor Smith the money would be transferred out of that account and into the general fund as needed. Councilwoman Ramsey asked if that would not create even more work for Secretary Leathers and Wolfe concurred it probably will create more work.
"Is it legal to earmark that money not into the general fund? Before we do this shouldn't we possibly ask someone?" said Councilman Allen.
"Alright with me. I don't think it is, but you're welcome to ask Mr. Bovey (City Attorney) about it," said Wolfe.
Councilman Allen continued to express concern over tracking the police department gains so closely as it would appear the council is trying to monitor how many tickets are produced by the department, "It almost seems like we're keeping tabs on how much they're working and what they're actually producing instead of being part of one big account, part of a general fund, it seems like we're segregating them off and actually causing it to look like we are keeping tabs on their production and using that as our measurement of their worthiness and not actually the service they provide to the city."
One reason Councilman Allen stated the council should not set up an account for the police department, which would mirror that of the electric department and water department, is because they are companies designed to support themselves and the police department is a service to function out of the general fund. Councilman Allen stated taking that action with the account would get the council in trouble.
"That's the reason we have lawyers," said Councilman Wolfe. "Yeah," agreed Councilwoman Baker.
A motion was made by Councilman Grace to put the resolution on hold until Mayor Smith could check with legal counsel regarding the issue. Councilwoman Baker seconded the motion and it carried.
Police Department report for July
28 agency assists, 10 motorist assists, 2 escorts, 7 extra patrol requests, 4 calls for lose livestock, 4 calls for animal complaints, served 2 warrants, 5 theft cases, 1 criminal mischief, 1 criminal trespass, 7 disturbance, 4 suspicious person, 1 suspicious vehicle, 2 reckless drivers, 17 investigations, 3 burglary of a building, 3 burglary of a habitation, 2 assault, 5 assault family violence, 2 sexual assault of a child, 1 possession of marijuana, 1 possession of a controlled substance, 1 evading arrest, 1 public intoxication, 6 welfare checks, 7 engaging in organized criminal activity.
Total calls for service - 127
Total Arrests - 21
Public Works report for July
58 total work orders received with 54 of them being resolved. Repaired a leak on Timpson Street which has been leaking for a long time. Replaced 180' of water line. Repaired Timpson Street and Railroad Avenue with white rock. Resurfaced Driver Lane and North 4th Street with white rock.
Municipal Court report for July
177 citations issued, 212 violations, 0 to juveniles and 15 to minors. Total amount reported $40,734.55 the City’s portion a 55% estimate of $22,404.00.
Approved items on the agenda:
Consent agenda:
A. Minutes of the regular meeting held on July 21, 2015
B. Minutes of the special meeting held on July 30, 2015
C. Financial Statement for the month of July, 2015
D. Accounts Payable – Unpaid bills for July, 2015
E. Gareth Yoder and the Mennonite Community to use the Gazebo area for their Annual Tent Revival which will take place October 5th-11th.
Contract renewal at Woodlawn Cemetery with Ricky Askins for $1,375.00 a month for mowing and basic cemetery maintenance.
Reduction in Force of the police department to a four-man department.
Proposed budget for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year: General revenue, subtotal of revenue $284,550; transfers required from electric fund $34,779.90; Cemetery fund $14,000. Total of expenditures $333,329.90.
Tax Rate for 2015-2016 of .313 per $100, a $2,119 increase in revenue and increase in effective rate proposed by Shelby County.
Tabled items on the agenda:
Runnels Property Survey.
Employee Handbook(s) based in the issues being decided at this meeting: Employee benefits, “Call-Out” Pay, Garaging of department vehicles, over-time pay, department scheduling, etc.
Resolution of Authority and contact info for Austin Bank Police Account #2800018349, adding Mayor Debra Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Wolfe, City Secretary Leslie Leathers and Paula Mullins, Municipal Court Clerk.
