By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
ARGO — The Argo City Council considered hiring a grant writer for the city. According to the ordinance, the grant writer will be paid out of the grants that they secure for the city. The position will also not be exclusive. The city would maintain the ability to use other grant writers. The resolution was passed unanimously.
Police Chief James Downey addressed the council on the need for funds to send a new police hire to the academy. The cost to the city would be $1,500 for the academy plus the salary of the new hire, which would be $14.25 an hour for 40 hours a week for a period of 13 weeks. The new hire would have to complete the academy and serve with the city of Argo for a period of two years. If the new hire completes training, the academy will return $750 to the city of Argo. If the new hire does not remain with the city for the full two-year period, the new hire will have to pay the city back for the entire cost of attending the academy. The city of Argo is currently looking to hire a new officer, and having a slot in place at the academy would allow that new hire to come online with the police department in a timely manner. The council approved it unanimously.
Downey also addressed the council in reference to the purchase of a new police vehicle. Specifically, the department is looking to purchase a truck that could be used for patrol and for animal control purposes. The purchase price of the truck is approximately $33,000 and will take three to four months to come in. Once Argo has the truck, it will require another $15,000 to $20,000 for all the added equipment that will be needed for it to perform as a law enforcement vehicle. The council unanimously approved the purchase price of the vehicle and will consider approving the additional funds at a later date.
The council discussed estimates to repair the roof to city hall, which is leaking. The council has, so far, received two estimates. The council decided to continue the process of taking in estimates until the best deal is found.
In other news, the council considered the possibility of monetizing a new city website, yet to be built, by reaching out to the community and allowing local businesses to advertise on it.
“I wanted to ask,” said Mayor Betty Bradley, “if the council had any objections to me sending out letters to the businesses asking them, seeing if any of them would be interested in being on the website and cutting the city’s cost to having that website build.”
The council had no objection to sending out the letters.
A letter to Downey and the Argo Police Department was read into the record. The letter was from St. Clair County Sheriff Billy J. Murray and was in reference to an incident in March in which a county litter truck was carjacked and Argo PD provided assistance in ending the situation and capturing the suspect.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your officers for helping us resolve a dangerouse situation on Thursday, March 14, 2019,” said Murray in a statement. “Because of the swift actions of your department, we were able to apprehend a dangerous individual who had taken a litter control vehicle. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident. Again, thank you for your assistance and pass on to your officers my appreciation for a job well done. Please don’t hesitate to call me if I can be of any assistance to your department.”