Huntsville Offered Part-Time P.D.
Speaking to the monthly meeting of the Huntsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen, a citizen made a proposal Monday evening for a part-time police department in the Town of Huntsville.
Rick Duncan, long-time deputy with the Scott County SheriffÕs Department and currently working as a part-time officer, presented the board with the proposal.
ÒI would like to offer the city a part-time police department to cover the city from lawsuits, if possible,Ó Duncan said. ÒIÕm retired but I can still work part-time.Ó
Duncan said he has already cleared the proposal with Sheriff Jim Carson, who supported the idea. Before the town moved forward with the proposal, he said, authorities would have to check with the state to Òmake sure everything is up to par.Ó
Alderman Gary Sexton voiced concerns regarding funding for the department.
ÒI know it probably wouldnÕt hurt to have a part-time police department and I am all for it, but right now we just donÕt have the means for it,Ó Sexton said. ÒWe donÕt have vehicles and uniforms, stuff like that. We donÕt have the money (for those things) at this time.Ó
A previous MTAS study concerning the feasibility of a Huntsville police department found that the project would be too costly for the town to undertake.
Duncan said that he was willing to volunteer his time at the beginning and may be able to provide part of the equipment needed.
ÒI have something else that I can tell you about (in a future meeting between himself and the board),Ó he said. ÒThe car and radio may be covered by that.Ó
Mayor George Potter said that the aldermen and himself would meet with Duncan at a later date to further discuss the ideas presented at the meeting.
In other business:
A contract for the repaving of Water Plant Road was awarded to Tennessee Asphalt Company, the lowest bidder of two received by the town. Tennessee Asphalt bid $9,884, while Miller & Sons bid $10,640. Of the $9,884, the Town of Huntsville will be responsible for 50 percent, or $4,942, while the Huntsville Utility District will be responsible for the other half. Potter stated that he had been told by Tennessee Asphalt officials that work can begin on the road in Òtwo to three weeks.Ó
The board approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 03-15, which establishes an Occupational Safety and Health program. It was announced that Fire Chief Dean King has been appointed director of the program and has already begun working to implement it.
Huntsville Utility District was appointed to conduct billing and collection of sewer bills for the town, a move which Potter said will save the city approximately $10,000 per year.
Because the 2003-04 budget has not yet been completed, the board voted to pass a 1/12 Continuing Budget Resolution for the month of August. A similar resolution was passed to carry the town through the month of July.
A letter from a Òconcerned citizenÓ was discussed by the board concerning abandoned vehicles left on town property and the citizenÕs property by the Scott County SheriffÕs Department. The board voted to contact the proper authorities and determine how to proceed with the issue.
The board approved a road block for Mid County Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, August 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Acting on a motion by Alderman Tim Woodward, the board elected to purchase 6-foot Christmas lights to go on light poles in the town. The lights cost $200 each.
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