By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
ARGO – Police Chief Alan Busler spoke to the Argo City Council on Tuesday night, Nov. 14, for the first regularly scheduled meeting of the month. The Council met on Tuesday due to City Hall being closed on Monday for Veterans Day.
Police Chief Alan Busler promoted officer Cason Davis to Corporal on Tuesday night, November 14. (Credit: Terry Schrimscher)
“I’m not going to be posting updates on Facebook, or even trying to,” Busler said. “I’m not going to police Facebook and I’m not going to let my guys do the same. If we have a press release, it’s going to go through one of the news outlets.”
Argo police were involved in a brief manhunt earlier in the month after suspected car thieves fled on foot after a traffic stop. Mayor Betty Bradley commented about people sending her messages saying they were going to get their guns and find the suspects themselves.
“Somebody’s going to get hurt or somebody’s going to get killed and I don’t want that to happen,” Bradley said.
“We’ll be there to help them too,” Busler added, “but I’m not going to hear about it via Facebook.”
During the regular meeting, Busler said the department had responded to more than 650 calls in October. Busler also announced the promotion of officer Cason Davis to Corporal.
“It’s a great day when you can take a young officer and give him his first stripes,” Busler said. Davis has helped lead classes on drug intervention classes for the department.
Members of the Argo Police Department and City Council pose with newly promoted Corporal Cason Davis and Chief Alan Busler. (Credit: Terry Schrimscher)
The Council approved $181,783.90 for the purchase of Kenwood radios for Argo Police and Fire departments. Money for the radios will be taken from existing relief funds set aside by the city. It was announced earlier in the year that St. Clair County would be moving to a digital radio system. The upgrades have caused several municipalities in the county to seek funding for new radio purchases.
The Council also approved $12,375 for landscaping and drainage repairs around City Hall. The work was approved from a bid by Grace Landscape and Lighting.
In other business, the Council reinstated the moratorium on mobile homes in the city until zoning ordinances can be approved. The previous moratorium expired on Oct. 24, and the Council heard complaints from local citizens that someone moved a new trailer onto property facing their home without a permit the morning of Oct. 25.
The next regular meeting of the Argo council is scheduled for Nov. 27, with a work session at 5 p.m. An agenda for each meeting is posted in local businesses including Hill Top Farms, Argo Hardware, Liberty Automotive, Shell, Southland BBQ, Fox’s Pizza and Buckeye Grocery. Agendas are also posted on the city’s Facebook page.
