DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY|dewayne@mcnews.online
MOUNT IDA – A resident of Mount Ida shared his concerns regarding a lack of law enforcement presence in the city limits with the city council Monday night.
Bill Ray was given time to speak at the beginning of the Mount Ida City Council meeting regarding vehicles speeding within the city limits.
He complained about “hot rodders” running up and down the highways in and around Mount Ida. He said that he can hear them running up and down Highway 27S near his house in the evening. Ray stated that they start around 9:15 p.m. He said that he can hear them once he goes to bed without his hearing aids.
Ray added that he went to the Sheriff’s Office to ask for help in stopping this behavior, but was told by a dispatcher that the sheriff’s office patrolled the county, not the city of Mount Ida. Alderman Rick Farmer asked who told him that. Ray responded that it was a female dispatcher, but he did not provide a name.
Mayor Jo Childress stated that she can hear them at night as they come past her house. She said that they sound as if they are drag racing past her house.
Ray stated that he wanted to address his issue with the city council to spark a discussion within their governing body regarding the issue. He pointed out that the law enforcement presence within the city limits has decreased since the sheriff’s office moved to the edge of town. He added that he knows the city can’t afford a city law enforcement officer, but hopes that they can work something out with the sheriff’s office.
A monthly stipend of $2,500 paid by the city to the sheriff’s office was discussed. Some of the council members asked if they could stop the payments if the sheriff’s office wasn’t patrolling within the city limits. Mayor Childress said that they couldn’t do that. Another raised the question about going to the county judge about the problem. The mayor said that she didn’t want to go over the sheriff’s head before talking to him about the issue.
All of the council members shared personal experiences regarding hazardous driving within the city limits. Alderman Joe Partain stated that he has witnessed them speeding past his house on Luzerne Street. Mayor Childress complained about efforts to stop a neighbor from riding on his 4-wheeler on the highway. She alleged that he has complained to the sheriff’s office about her neighbor driving dangerously with a minor on the ATV past her house. She added that she has also complained about dogs roaming and sleeping on the highway.
It was pointed out that the city has a leash law that needs to be enforced. Alderman Partain asked about a curfew that was in place when he was growing up in Mount Ida.
Many at the meeting alleged that sheriff’s office response times to calls was slow.
No one from the Sheriff’s Office was present at the meeting to address the concerns discussed.
It was decided that the mayor would contact the sheriff’s office and the state police and arrange a meeting at the civic center to discuss law enforcement issues within the city limits.
The city council approved the water and wastewater budgets for 2020.
Mayor Childress discussed the possibility of providing a one time premium payment to city employees by way of CARES Act funds. She stated that as essential employees they could be eligible for a one time payment for working during the pandemic. She was advised to wait a couple weeks before applying for the money, but asked for permission to do so at the appropriate time. The council approved her request.
If granted the city will pay full time employees a one time $1,000 premium pay payment and part time employees a $500 premium pay payment. This will be available to all city employees, elected city officials and city council members.
Alderman Partain inquired as to how the city was dealing with employee quarantines. Mayor Childress stated that they have had employees who had to be quarantined and they were paid while home in quarantine. There is currently not a city quarantine pay policy in place.
The city council approved an ordinance and resolution which hands control of the city’s fireman pension fund to the state LOPFI fund. This was done at the request of the city’s fireman pension fund board of directors.
Mayor Childress shared that the board was given three options regarding their account. They could turn the pension over to the state and not receive any future raises, or they could leave it as is and have the possibility of receiving raises in the future. She explained that the big difference to the city is that if they continue to control the fund they will have to pay every time an increase is given.
She shared that the fund’s board of directors did not want the city to have to handle that expense so they chose to combine their fund with the LOPFI fund. There are currently nine people drawing from the old pension fund. The ordinance allows for a 20 year agreement with LOPFI.
The city will continue to send the $4,500 millage payment to LOPFI each year. Alderman Rick Farmer asked about what would happen in the future with the millage payment. Mayor Childress stated that once the pensioners and their spouses passed away then the fund was be dissolved and the millage should go away.