Flashing speed signs, time clocks discussed in Manderson

Manderson Town Councilwoman Judy Bury finished out the town council meeting on September 14 with a question about getting flashing speed signs in the town. “I still want yellow blinking signs to warn people that there is a 30 mph spend limit and a 40 mile. All these towns have it where it shows 45 with an arrow.”
She continued that when people turn off U.S. Highway 16/20 on to Wyoming Highway 31, the speed limit goes from 70 mph to 30 mph. There is no warning. Traveling from Hyattville into Manderson, the speed limit goes from 70 mph to 40 mph to 30 mph without warning.
Manderson Chief of Police BJ Kidgell told Bury there is a warning sign.  Bury said she still supports having blinking signs because they get the driver’s attention. She added, “Isn’t this supposed to be about safety, too? If we want to slow these people down, I still think we need some blinking yellow signs.” She said she is not against picking up speeders, but when she sees blinking signs coming into a town, she slows down.
Kidgell told Bury that the Wyoming Department of Transportation puts lights on the signs. He told Bury she slows down because she knows the signs are there. Clerk of Court Janet Reasoner said there is evidence that the signs aren’t effective. Bury acknowledged being told that by Kidgell too, but she thinks they would still be effective in Manderson.
The chief pointed out that when people turn off U.S. Highway 16/20, they are making a 90 degree turn and can’t do that at 70 mph so they are already slowed down when they get on to Wyoming 31.
Mayor Rod Patrick said that he thought a police vehicle sitting by the railroad tracks
would be enough to slow someone down.
TIME CLOCKS
Mayor Patrick told the council that he wants to change the procedure of the employees clocking in. Currently they can do so remotely. He asked the council to approve all staff punching into the actual timeclocks at the town. Councilman Tim Patrick stated this was wanted because it was hard for the council to see what is going on. “We are not going to pay off the time clock. That’s not what it is for. It’s for the council to know days, hours, whatever we’re doing because we’ve got no clue because we can’t get on the computer to look at the time sheets.” The online timecards will be used for payroll.
Clerk of Court Janet Reasoner asked if the time clocks could be fixed to show the correct time. The mayor said they could. She also asked what happens if a staffer forgets to clock in. Mayor Patrick said they could hand write the time in but if it happens too much, the employee will have to get the timecard approved.
Kidgell explained that he wants to make sure that the council understands that law enforcement is not an 8-to-5, clock in/clock out kind of job. “My guys come on duty. They clock in with their phone, then they drive here. During that time, they can encounter several things.”
For example, motorist assists, backing up of other law enforcement agencies on traffic stops or calls, etc. He said he wants it understood that when they clock in on their phones and through dispatch, they are at work. This way if something should happen to an officer on their way to or from work, they would still be covered under insurance.
The mayor told Kidgell that is understood but he would still like the officers to clock in and out with the machine. This way when people ask him how many hours the police department is “putting in, in town," he can see what those hours are. No one was in trouble, he said, adding it is just a tool for the council/mayor to know what is going on.
Kidgell also inquired about trainings. He was told the officers just had to write down the hours and turn them in.
The chief asked about the department’s lieutenant who works out of his home often. The mayor said the lieutenant would be excused.
Kidgell also noted that the police department is different than any other department. Mayor Patrick acknowledged this was true but that it is also controlled by the council like the other departments are.
A motion was made by Councilman Patrick, seconded by Bury and passed.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Kidgell said Manderson Police Department is doing a highway clean-up on Oct. 14. After this one, the Adopt-A-Highway sign will officially say that portion has been adopted by the police department. The clean-up starts at 10 a.m. Kidgell invited the public to help.
The chief noted that there is still a lot of traffic going through town and reminded citizens to be careful when crossing the streets.
Reasoner gave her report. She noted that payments for citations are up (year to date) from the previous years.  
The department is planning a Halloween party the end of October.