July 26, 2017 - The Tenaha City Council met Monday, July 24, 2017 at 5:15pm and approved raises for several employees of the city in a meeting that lasted almost three hours.
Following an executive session that was clocked at 1 hour and 50 minutes, the council approved wage raises for Roland Brittian, $12 an hour; Manuel Cuevas, $12 an hour; Kendrick McClure, $15 an hour; Darren Gray, $16 an hour; and Elizabeth Swint, $17 an hour; effective Friday, July 28, 2017.
After the approval of pay raises department head reports were given, starting with Jimmy Wagstaff, Tenaha city Marshal.
Marshal Wagstaff reported total calls for service for June of 16: two alarm; one child custody; four disturbances; one harassment; one motorist assist; one loud music; one agency assist; one property dispute; one unresponsive person; one civil dispute; and one crash investigation. There were 135 traffic stops with 160 citations issued including 117 for speeding; 25 no insurance; three no driver's license; four driving while license invalid; two expired driver's license; two seat belt violations; one child safety seat violation and six expired registrations.
Upon completing his report to the council, Marshal Wagstaff let everyone present for the meeting know he had submitted his resignation with the city by stating he had presented each of the council members with his resignation letter and he asked that it be accepted by August 7, 2017.
Earlier in the meeting, Marshal Wagstaff was questioned by Cliff Lloyd, alderman, about police vehicle use policy as officers take the vehicles home so they can respond to emergencies.
Lloyd indicated the employee handbook says "the only person authorized to take home a city vehicle is the City of Tenaha Marshal." Marshal Wagstaff asked if that applies to city maintenance workers as well, because they also take vehicles home.
Marshal Wagstaff stated to Lloyd, if the City Marshal's Office officers cannot take the vehicles home, they cannot respond when they are called out because as soon as they are en-route to a scene they are on company time and the city insurance does not cover their personal vehicles when they would be responding to an emergency call.
Craig Gray, alderman, asked Marshal Wagstaff what the policy is in places like the City of Center and at the Sheriff's Department. Marshal Wagstaff explained the Center patrolmen don't take the vehicles home; however, they have 24/7 coverage with two to three officers on at a time. He said each individual deputy out of 13 has a county car they take home with them so they can respond to calls whenever they are needed. Marshal Wagstaff also said Timpson takes their vehicles home with them. Carthage has a scenario similar to that of Center.
Marshal Wagstaff explained for Natalie Harris, alderman, when the officers are on call there is a difficulty if the vehicle were to be left in the city otherwise because then the officer's personal vehicle would have to be left in the city unprotected.
Lloyd said he spoke with a former city Marshal who told him it was okay for him to take his vehicle home, because there was an agreement between he and the mayor at that time for him to receive $100 a month for gas.
Marshal Wagstaff stated the former city Marshal didn't even live in the county at that time. Lloyd said the officer stated to him it would be difficult with the current officers living in Precinct 1 and Precinct 3, but not a complication if they live in Precinct 4. Marshal Wagstaff asked Lloyd what he wanted the officers to do. Lloyd said that wasn't a decision he could make on his own and said the council would talk about it in closed session. Other members of the council disagreed with Lloyd about discussing the matter in closed session.
Harris returned to her original question about the vehicles and asked if the officers are taking the vehicles home even when they are not on call. Wagstaff said all of the officers are on call 24/7, so they all take the vehicles home with them.
Stephanie Marie Glenn, alderman, said she has always been told to call the Sheriff's Department in place of knowing who was on call. Marshal Wagstaff said that is to prevent anyone from having to make multiple phone calls to get in touch with somebody because the Sheriff's Department has a direct line to the officers.
Mayor Jernigan suggested setting a future policy meeting.
Regarding the old city ball park, Lloyd said he would like to see the area cleaned up and maintained regularly. Glenn suggested if it would help the city maintenance crew, hiring an outside company to perform the initial cleanup of the area so the city could then continue maintenance of the area.
A motion carried to seek bids for a one time cleanup of the old city ball park.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. June 26, 2017 Regular Scheduled Council Meeting 2. June 2017 Financials 3. Seek bids for ballpark one time maintenance 4. Schedule a Public Budget Workshop for Monday, August 21, 2017 @ 5:15 p.m. at City Hall 5. Advertise for Bid For Auditor to Conduct FYE 2016 & 2017 Audits 6. Ordinance #2017-07-24-1 Establishing City Application & Permit Fees for The Legal Sale of Beer and Wine Sales for Off-Premises Consumption Only 7. Roland Brittian, $12 an hour; Manuel Cuevas, $12 an hour; Kendrick McClure, $15 an hour; Darren Gray, $16 an hour; and Elizabeth Swint, $17 an hour; effective Friday, July 28, 2017. 8. Adjourn 7:55pm
