HIGHFILL -- City Council on June 10 approved the purchase of three ballistic vests and the creation of a reserve program for the Highfill Police Department.
Approval to purchase three ballistic vests, with carriers to wear them under a uniform shirt or outside the shirt, was requested by Officer Blake Webb at the regular Highfill council meeting. The purchase was requested to replace vests which are outdated or are not the right size for current officers. Money to buy the vests -- $2,655 -- is to come from the police department's equipment fund.
Also suggested by Webb was the approval of a reserve program which could possibly provide as many as five volunteers to assist full-time officers. Certified officers would receive required training through the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. The program, according to Webb, would increase officer safety by having an additional officer in the patrol car with full-time officers, and it would also provide a trained pool of officers to be considered for future vacant positions.
Webb told council members that the police department's Crown Victoria would be sold using the govdeals.com website.
In other action, Bob Bittle and Chris Holland were appointed to Highfill's water and sewer committees for two-year terms ending June 30, 2016. James "Butch" Wiand was appointed as director, and Stacy Digby as alternate director, to serve on the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority board of directors.
Also passed by the council was a resolution establishing a city depository board made up of the mayor, the city recorder and a council member to oversee the depositing of city funds in authorized bank accounts. The resolution, even though the practice was already in place, was now required by a change in state law, according to Steve Miller, attorney for the city.
Bob Wright of Crews and Associates explained to the water board and then to the council the possibility of refinancing a portion of the city's bonds for an approximate savings of $185,000. He said he would like to discuss two of the city's loans with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and would then report back to the city on a possible course of action to restructure and simplify the city's bonded debt, save the city money and put it in a better position for future grants and projects.
Community on 06/18/2014