911 and Senior Centers
Jordan Crump is now filling the job left open with Beth Wilson’s retirement. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met on Monday, January 6th at the Edmonton City Hall for their monthly meeting. Those absent were councilmembers Faye Word and Tommy England, and City Attorney Brian Pack.
A quorum was present and the minutes from the December 2nd meeting were approved.
Mayor Doug Smith began with, “As you know, Edmonton Metcalfe 911 director, Beth Wilson retired in December. The Edmonton Metcalfe 911 board appointed Jordan Crump as the interim director. There have been discussions about the employees of the Edmonton Metcalfe 911 and as you know right now, they don’t belong to the city or county, but are governed by the Edmonton Metcalfe 911.”
Smith further explained that they are paid through the board from the budget which the city and county each pay parts. They have no benefits as far as retirement and insurance.
Smith then offered this solution, “I would like to ask the council to consider two options, one being, sign an interlocal agreement with the county, if the county would take that on these employees and pay half for the payroll expenses, or two, creating a department for 911, and making them city employees with the understanding that the county will sign an interlocal agreement, agreeing to pay half of the payroll expenses to the city. “
“I feel this is something that is needed, and the employees deserve the benefits either the city or county can offer. I’m not asking for any action at this time, just information for you all to consider if the county is in agreement on either option.”
City Clerk/Administrator Dawn Devore added, “Now we have NCIC, Jordan is working on getting that in the dispatch center. Also, if that is done, there will have to be a board created at that time to govern that and some policies and procedures that that program requires, and it has to be 51% law enforcement on that board.”
Next on the agenda was renovations needed at the Senior Center in Edmonton. An estimate has been received for the needed flooring repairs and updates; however, Devore had visited the center and explained, “I’ve been here almost 24 years. I don’t know of anything really done down there, other than an insurance claim on the roof, and we just last year, replaced the heating unit. So that floor is definitely a hazard…Community Action goes down there every day and feeds them lunch. And then, of course, they have other activities and stuff down there. What I’m asking for is to get estimates. I would like to go look at some different types of flooring, and not just that VCT. That’s what I brought estimates from. It’s lasted, you know, it’s obviously pretty good stuff, yeah. But what I’d like to do is, if you all will agree to approve somewhere between 30 and $35,000 for updates. The flooring estimate that I got was all over 20 both of the bathroom vanities have leak issues that have happened and need to be replaced…they have requested the roof on the gazebo…some LED lights in the parking lot for the street lights that are just burning out…the landscaping needs redoing, and the parking lot need some attention too.”
During the discussion, it was agreed that some of the more important work could be completed on this year’s budget and other less important items such as the gazebo roof and landscaping could be held until the next year’s budget. Councilmember Teresa Hamlett made a motion to allow a budget of up to $35,000 and to get estimates for the needed work. The motion was seconded and approved.
Police Chief David Robertson presented the December department activity as having 5 arrests, 5 non-injury accidents, 3 alarms, 2 animal complaints, 1 incomplete 911 call, 1 new investigation, 3 motorists assisted, 6 medical assists, 42 traffic stops, 1 trash complaint, 3 warrants served, 2 funeral escorts, and 5 citations written.
Cash Fugate, Sr. owner/operator of Creekside Liquors in Edmonton requested the council make a change in the ABC Ordinance concerning advertising events. Seated are Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons and ABC Administrator Fred Ray. Photo | PJ Martin
Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons presented the December fire runs as 1 non-injury accident, 2 injury accidents, 3 structure fires, 4 grass fires, 3 unclassified fires, 2 downed trees, 1 alarm, and 1 public service for a total of 17 runs. He also gave the 2024 run totals (minus fire totals) of 85 medical and 13 lift assists.
After the ABC report, Cash Fugate, Sr. owner and operator of Creekside Liquors spoke to the council members. He has had requests from people to make donations to charities, events, etc. and he must do them in his name and not under the store name. This is per a specification in the ABC Ordinances. He has also had requests to do book signings and wine tastings; however, advertising those things is not allowed under the store name per the same ordinance. He asked if the council could discuss and possibly amend the ordinance to allow the advertisement of these events under the store’s name.
No specific answer could be given other than City Attorney Brian Pack can do some research and the state must also provide specifications.
The last item on the agenda was amendments to two Verizon Cell Tower leases at the Wisdom Tank and the Downtown Tank. The items were not lease extensions or money-related, but a reduction of equipment. The motion passed with the understanding that if any damage was caused Verizon would be responsible.
There was no other business and the meeting adjourned.
