Staff writer
The Florence City Council approved two motions Monday related to police enforcement.
At the request of Police Chief Michael Stone, the council approved the purchase of a TASER for $939.
“Pepper spray doesn’t always work,” Stone said. “We’re having some situations that are getting kind of tense.”
Stone will also attend a Death Scene Investigation class June 13 through 17 in Hutchinson. He will stay in the dorm on the community college campus. The cost of the trip will be $425. While Stone is away and Florence’s other police officer, Daniel Hurst, is in the academy, the Marion County sheriff’s office will patrol in Florence.
City superintendent Phil Baldwin presented suggestions from the Army Corps of Engineers for modifications to the Cottonwood River levee. He said he was going to put large rock in where there is not currently cement.
Council members Randy Mills and Trayce Warner met with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when they inspected the dike April 5.
“Some of the answers from FEMA are not pleasant,” Warner said.
The council set up a work session for 9:30 a.m. Monday about the levee.
“It’s an issue that is going to affect people in the flood plain,” Mills said. “Anything with expenses revolves around the levee.”
A contract with Dewey Stevens to mow Hillcrest Cemetery for $400 was approved
Four previously discussed ordinances were approved on second reading.
An ordinance will increase the community cost of the Florence rescue truck service. The ordinance allows the council to pass a resolution that will allow them to increase the price of the rescue truck service.
An ordinance decreasing city permitted fireworks sales to July 4 was passed.
The changes to the cemetery ordinance — increasing fees for markers to $25 and lots to $125 each and barring domestic animals from the cemetery — was adopted.
A noise ordinance also was approved.
New council member John Swarm was sworn in.
The Florence fire department had an election of officers and Mark Slater was re-elected as fire chief. Florence firefighters went to seven grass fires last month, assisting the Burns and Peabody fire departments.