Manderson PD hours, E-ticket program discussed at council meeting

The council voted to purchase an e-ticket program for the Manderson Police Department at the April 11 council meeting. The vote was three to one. Councilman Troy Chambers had an excused absence for this meeting. The approval came after a long discussion.
Councilman Patrick clarified that if approved, it would take six to nine months for the system to be put in place and running (after the contract is signed). He would like to see the money for the system put in the upcoming town budget. The cost is estimated at $20,000. Court Clerk Janet Reasoner said she had included the cost of the system in the police budget. That budget had been given to the council previously.
Councilwoman Judy Bury revisited her thoughts on the town getting flashing speed signs. Addressing Chief BJ Kidgell, she said, “I’m trying to slow people down for you, but you guys are against it.”
Kidgell asked when he had ever stated he was against it. Bury said they’d had this discussion previously. She continued she would prefer to see some blinkers around the signs like in other towns. “Something that would slow people down and save you from having to use this e-system.”
Bury noted she sees those signs and is reminded to slow down. Mayor Rod Patrick asked her if she slows down because she is going into a town or because of the flashing lights. She responded, “Both.” The mayor stated the town had investigated those signs and found they could not afford them.
Bury asked if the council was going to review the PD’s hours, to have them start earlier in the day and later at night. She would like to see officers on duty from 7 a.m.–9 p.m. during the summer. She said the council had agreed with those hours last year.
Kidgell asked if the PD was doing something wrong or was not good enough. Bury responded no, that her request was because there are speeders coming through early in the morning and late at night. She believed that having two officers on at the same time might not be as effective as longer hours.
Kidgell responded, “I put my guys in the best position to do the best job they can.” Councilman Patrick told Kidgell that the two of them plus the mayor would have a discussion later. Kidgell asked why the issue couldn’t be discussed right then.
Bury told Kidgell she was not saying the PD doesn’t do their job. She reiterated that there are a lot of speeders in the early morning and at night.
Officer Steve Coleman stated, “I can tell you, in the summer I am here before seven every morning. I can also tell you I don’t write tickets until around nine o’clock.”
Councilman Patrick told Kidgell there wasn’t anything bad he and the mayor wanted to discuss with him. “We’ve got double expenditures now, we’ve got cars traveling different places now than we did have, we’ve got more insurance. There is no one on this council saying you guys aren’t doing your job. Sometimes we just need to sit down and have a discussion.”
The mayor told Kidgell, “If I’ve got a problem, you’ll be the first one to know.”
Bury noted that she isn’t the only one who has discussed the PD extending its hours. She and Councilman Patrick have discussed it previously. The councilman agreed with this statement.
Kidgell reiterated that he is the chief and he places his officers at the best times and locations to serve the town. Bury stated she is not picking on him.
The mayor shut down further discussion, stating that the topic was not on the agenda.
Kidgell gave the police report. The police department will host a highway clean-up day on Thursday, May 2, at 9 a.m. Donuts will be provided. Mayor Patrick said he would like to see more of the community involved in the effort.
Kidgell noted the fire extinguisher in the trunk of his patrol vehicle had gone off. The council voted to have a company recharge the extinguisher and check all the town’s extinguishers. Both the mayor and Councilman Patrick abstained from the vote, as the company is owned by the mayor.