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Roanoke PD to use CEDIT for computers

The Roanoke Town Council met on Tuesday, March 2, at 6 p.m. Council discusses several police department updates, including new equipment.
Town Marshal Jim Wood reported that Grant Baumgartner is enrolled in the academy. He will start on June 1 with 30 days of virtual learning. Baumgartner will then start his in-house training on July 1. He will graduate at the beginning of September.

Because of the need for virtual learning, Wood requested two new computers to replace their old ones in the amount of $2,076.03. The computers they currently use are seven to 10 years old.

Wood also requested to use funds from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) to cover some of the cost of the computers because they are having a hard time keeping money in their police department budget due to ammunition shortages.

“Ammunition right now is a dollar a round,” Wood said. “I have to supply him (Baumgartner) with over six hundred rounds just to go to the academy.”

The council approved using CEDIT for half of the cost. The other half will come from the police department budget.

A citizen expressed concern about building the fire station on the corner of Main and Vine streets. The citizen was worried that putting a fire station there would depreciate the value of the homes nearby.

Roanoke Town Council President Dave Meitzler said, after they looked into the project more, they decided it wouldn’t be the best fit.

“It probably will not be cost efficient to put anything there because of the removal of the dirt and the power lines that are there,” Meitzler said.
No further comment was made on the future of the project.

In other business:

• Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Milton presented Resolution 2021-01 in order to move $50,000 unused funds from the 2020 budget to the Rainy Day Fund. The council approved the resolution.

• Milton introduced Ordinance 2021-03, which established a policy for electronic fund transfers and online banking. The ordinance authorizes the clerk/treasurer and her assistant to make Automatic Clearing House (ACH) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) transactions as they see fit. The council approved the ordinance.

• A citizen expressed concern regarding the turnover of town employees. Meitzler addressed the situation, saying that they’ve offered incentives and a “comparable package.” Further investigation of the situation may be made at a later date.

• David Parker with Christ United Methodist Church asked for the council’s permission to put up signs for their upcoming fish fry on March 12. The council approved his request.

• Meitzler reported that the construction of the park pavilion should begin by the end of March or the beginning of April.

• Town Superintendent Phil Hibbert reported a proposal from Region 3A in regards to updating the town’s Comprehensive Plan, so they are able to apply for certain federal grants in the future. The last update was in 2005. Motion passed unanimously.

• Milton presented a year long contract with Office Pride to clean the facilities. Council approved the contract.