By CECILIA FOX
Record Herald Writer
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 11.11.12
TIPP CITY – By next spring, the currently understaffed Tipp City Police Department should be back to full strength. At the city council study session Monday night, council approved Police Chief Tom Davidson’s request to start the search for a new police officer.
“There has been a pretty heavy burden on our officers,” Davidson said.
Four retirements and a military deployment have left the department understaffed and overworked. Three of those vacancies have been filled and, with the hiring of a new patrolman and the return of another from military duty, by March 2013 the department will be back to full strength. The department has retired four officers since 2011, bringing the total number of officers to 16.
So far this year, the total cost of the 1,746 hours of overtime is $142,642, which is up 659 hours and $114,116 from this time in 2011. Current overtime hours do not yet reflect the new hires, since it takes several months to train a new patrolman. Training can even create more overtime because trainees cannot be on patrol alone. The total first year cost of hiring a new patrolman is between $70,000 and $80,000, depending on factors like the type of health insurance. Davidson said he would like to hire the new patrolman before the end of the year, however, which would cost about $9,307 in 2012. Although part of that $9,307 would cover one-time expenses like uniform and equipment, which costs about $5,700.
Despite the cost of hiring a new officer, council agreed that lessening the overtime burden on current officers is more important.
“You have to consider how hard those guys are working,” Mayor Dee Gillis said.
Davidson expects that a new patrolman could be hired by December and fully trained by March.
During the meeting, council approved a resolution of necessity for the South Third Street reconstruction project. This resolution declares that the improvements — reconstruction of the street base and pavement, new storm sewers, water and sewer mains, curbs and gutters, driveway approaches and sidewalks — are necessary. This resolution is the first step in the assessment process. Once the costs of the improvements have been assessed, the actual cost of the project will be presented to council.
Council authorized the purchase of a new 2.5 ton dump truck cab and chassis from Stoops Freightliner and a new dump truck bed and hydraulics from Henderson Equipment. The cost of the cab and chassis is $72,393, which is below the state bid price by about $5,000, and the cost of the dump bed and hydraulics is $55,005. The total cost of the purchase is $127,393.
Council also approved the 2013-2017 Capital Improvement Plan, with several modifications. Council reviewed the plan in September and suggested that several items be changed. The changes include placing the police department’s new Ford Explorer on a 5-year rotation and delaying the purchase of new trucks for the street and electric departments and a new backhoe for the water/sewer department.
Council approved the continuation of several contracts for 2013, including a contract with the Miami County Public Defender Commission and another with Dayton Pool Management.
The commission contract meets the city’s obligation to provide legal services to residents who cannot afford it. The cost of the one year contract is $4,068.
The city has had a contract with Dayton Pool Management for the operation and management of the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center for the last few seasons. The contract price for the standard 84 day season is $314,549. The resolution passed 5-1, with Bryan Budding giving the “nay” vote.
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