The Jefferson police department is making progress toward overcoming a critical shortage of officers. The city council approved the hiring of patrol officer Bohden Bigler at its regular meeting Oct. 27. Bigler starting annual salary is $44,821.
Bigler’s hire puts the JPD half-way to meeting benchmarks set in a 28E agreement with Greene County for help from the sheriff’s office in filling shifts while the JPD recoups from losing several officers in a short period of time. Per the agreement, the JPD needs to make formal job offers to two new officers by Dec. 8.
If the JPD fails to meet the benchmarks, the Greene County sheriff or the county supervisors could terminate the agreement and possibly take over all law enforcement duties in the county.
Police chief Mark Clouse has cautioned that it can take several months for a new officer to be fully certified and able to patrol on his own.
Clouse shared another piece of good news with the council – officer Mark Wolterman, who was hired during the summer, completed the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Oct. 23.
Also at the meeting, the council appointed David Morain as city attorney upon the Dec. 31 retirement of longtime city attorney Bob Schwarzkopf. Morain is a partner in Hoyt & Morain Law Firm PC in Jefferson. He was appointed at this time to allow transition time.
The council set a public hearing for the Nov. 24 regular meeting to receive bids and award a construction contract for the Greene County animal shelter. Construction may begin as soon as December, with substantial completion in November 2021.
The council took the first step in replacing two blocks of alleyway next year. The alleys under consideration are the west half of the alley between S. Chestnut and Wilson Ave, the east alley between S. Wilson and S. Vine St (adjacent on the south of the Companion Veterinary Clinic), and the alley between S. Wilson and S. Vine (adjacent to the east of the post office). The council approved a professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk for the survey, design and bidding services, at a cost of $16,500.
The project will be paid for with local option sales and service tax (LOSST) funds.
The council also accepted a proposal from Bolton & Menk to facilitate stakeholder meetings and then prepare a publicly supported concept for corridor improvements on W. Lincoln Way from Elm St to Grimmell Rd. The process will be similar to that used to develop plans for E. Lincoln Way improvements from the Milwaukee Rd depot to the municipal cemetery, city engineer Jim Leiding said.
The goal will be to form an understanding of the project, look for alternatives, and develop ways to stage the project with the aim of saving money. The actual project may be two years in the future, Leiding said.
The council approved professional services agreements with Franks Design group for work done on the buildings at 206 N. Wilson and 105-107 N. Chestnut St. The two agreements total $31,136. The work was done last winter so the city could proceed as funds are available. Invoices have been received from Franks Design; the council approved the agreements after the fact so the invoices can be paid.
The council okayed disbursing a total of $32,928 from Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to Region XII Council of Governments for various expenses at the four houses Region XII built in the northeast section of town (507 and 606 N. Cedar St and 404 and 506 E. Clark Sts). The NSP is designated for homeowners with low to moderate incomes. Purchase of the homes is limited to persons in those income groups.
