Florence council hires chief of police
Florence city council members moved forward Monday night in their search for a new chief of police. After interviews the previous week, the group voted to offer the job to Merlin Stout, a career law enforcement officer from Rolla. Stout, who is 59, is a former deputy U.S. Marshal and Martin County Sheriff.
On a motion by Dan Ludwig the council voted to hire Stout at a salary of $28,000. Stout will begin work Oct. 15.
A background check proved satisfactory, but Stout will need to pass a finger print analysis, psychological profile, and be re-certified by KLETC.
He will have to fulfill a 90-day probationary period and insurance benefits will begin after he has been on the job for 30 days.
Another issue which has plagued the council for several months also was resolved.
Bids for a lease/purchase agreement on the new fire truck were presented and the council agreed to accept the bid of the Cottonwood Valley Bank. The bank made the fire department an exceptional offer with a proposal to finance the truck at zero percent interest.
With the absence of city superintendent Stuart Funk, the council was unable to get an update on the water and sewer service hook-up to Jim Steele's new liquor store business on U.S.-50.
Sue Klassen gave a report on the community organizational meeting held Oct. 5 for the new Pride committee. With about 70 people in attendance, the group ended up with a dozen projects suggested by citizens.
Klassen will be organizing work on several suggestions in the next few weeks.
Janette Parmley was present to remind the coun0cil of the fall clean up day to be held Oct. 11. Parmley said a number of tree trimming projects will be taken care of as well as clearing ditches of brush, trash, and debris.
She noted that if enough volunteers turn out, some of the equipment at Grandview Park and some of the poles supporting street signs will be painted.
Parmley reminded the group that the event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the ambulance building. A noon and evening meal will be provided to volunteers at the home of Bev Baldwin.
In other business, the council:
— approved the use of the area at the back of the library (which formerly held a thrift shop) to be used by civic organizations needing space to store equipment.
— voted to send both police cars to Webster Automotive in Marion for diagnostic analysis. The council will discuss repair options at a future meeting.
— voted to have city employees put the city dumpsters on a rotating paint and repair schedule to improve their appearance and make them functional.
— heard from fire chief Travis Parmley that several of the firemen had made truck repairs. Four firefighters have completed hazardous material training and the department is sponsoring a "Fire Fighter One" training session which a number of members will attend.
— encouraged Trayce Warner to meet with representatives from civic groups and bring a landscaping/usage plan for Veteran's Park back to the council.
— heard from Sarah Cope that Marion High School honor students had spent an afternoon in Florence last week painting fire hydrants.
— heard that there were no bids from local construction companies for the privately funded rest rooms to be built at Grandview Park.
— ended the meeting with an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No business was conducted when the council returned to open meeting.
