Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Safety Committee met April 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Alderwoman Ulfers, Aldermen Cahoe, Barragree, Rushbrook, Marcier (Via Phone) Mayotte, Garfield, Miller, and Mayor Allhands 

GUESTS: Fire Chief Tim Ketchum and Police Chief Jeremy Douglas

Alderwoman Ulfers opened the meeting at 7:40pm. There was no public comment. Alderman Garfield stated he had no Auxiliary report as they are not meeting until the coronavirus goes away.

Fire Chief Tim Ketchum stated the department had 1 fire/smoke in building and 2 mutual aid calls (Crescent City and St. Anne) for the month of March. Training for March consisted of grain bin awareness, station duty, COVID, N95 in service and roadway scene safety online. Chief reported some members of the department were involved with reading books with a member of the Sheriff’s department via Facebook. Chief also stated the department helped put up and take down and put back up the MABAS tent at IMH. Chief Ketchum stated Firefighter Douglas took a wildland firefighting class and Firemen Lesage, Schroeder and Thibaut took a hazardous material operations class. Chief reported he has taken verbal resignations from Ron Kochel and Justin Moyer. Chief Ketchum stated in previous meetings there was talk about a fire code for the City, he has checked into this and since the City is home rule they fall under the life safety codes. He also has looked into the department doing some burning of homes that the City acquires. He and Assistant Chief Peters have looked at several homes but there is a lot of work that would need to be done such as contacting the EPA and the Historical Society. This would be a 3-6 month process to get 1 permit. He will continue to gather information and report back at later meetings. Chief Ketchum gave the committee a brief update concerning new equipment that the department is going to need in the next few years.

Police Chief Jeremy Douglas spoke next. He stated the department had 349 calls for service during the month of March. He also stated the department is waiting on some equipment for the last squad. There were some issues with the supplier, it should be road ready in a couple more weeks. Chief Douglas stated the department has been getting donations of hand sanitizers, and so far the department is good. He also stated the community has been working well with the department. Chief Doulas stated the department has the windows tinted on their end of the building. Chief Douglas stated the Officer Smith’s 2 week transition course was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully he will be able to attend a class in July. Part time Officer Kole Bossong’s class was also cancelled. He had 2 months left. Chief Doulas is waiting to hear from the State how the last 2 weeks will be made up. Chief Douglas reported the department was able to use K9 Tucker a few days ago for a missing person that had wandered off from an assisted living facility. The person was found before Tucker could get to him but he was working in the right direction.

Mayor Allhands stated he has been thinking about doing some sort of grant for the businesses that have been affected with the coronavirus. He would like to take $40,000 from the revolving loan fund and possibly give them $2,000-$3,000 each. He would like for the committee to be thinking about this. Mayor Allhands would also like to be able to have the bars do curb side package liquor.

Alderman Garfield makes a motion to adjourn at 8:10 pm and Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 9-0.

http://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/minutes_public_-safety_04-14-2020.pdf