Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Safety Committee met June 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Barragree, Cahoe, Miller, Marcier, Muench, Anderson, Alderwomen Rohlfs and DeLahr, and Mayor Allhands

GUESTS: Resident Jennifer Kucher, Auxiliary Officer Mark Garfield, Fire Chief Ken Baier, Nita Dubble with the Police and Fire commission and Police Chief Jeremy Douglas

Alderman Barragree opened the meeting and 6:30 pm. During public comment Jennifer Kucher spoke regarding the ongoing siren from her next-door neighbor.

Chief Douglas and Chief Baier presented plaques to Police Officer Quincy Spears for saving Sally Haberkorn from her house fire. The committee thanked him also for his dedication.

Auxiliary Officer Mark Garfield stated his department did training on radio etiquette and special events incidents and did an equipment check. They had no details last month.

Fire Chief Ken Baier stated his department had 6 fires, 6 EMS assists, 8 ambulance, 2 MVA’s, 1 autoaid call, 1 mutual aid call,1 CO Alarm, and 5 other calls for the month May. Training for May consisted of training tower maintenance, truck training (short Jack), auto extrication review (power point), auto extraction practical’s, dry hydrant operations w/pumping, and vent enter search (VES) under live fire at the training towers. Chief stated firefighter Ace Gamino passed her fire academy class, and Lt. Duane Brose, Firefighter Jackie Lesage, and firefighter Ryan Burton, have all passed the EMT class. Chief Baier also stated the rope rescue equipment has been placed in service. The department has installed 15 smoke detectors in homes during the month of May. Chief also reported the department has the new Tahoe and is should be completed by this Friday. He also stated the department has a new EMT that has transferred in from Milford and she has great references.

Nita Dubble with the Police and Fire Commission spoke next. She stated the committee has finally gotten a list together, there is one on the lateral entry list and 2 on the new list (these 2 would need all of the schooling to be an officer). The committee will not meet again until September and if nothing is happening they will not meet then either.

Police Chief Jeremy Douglas spoke next. He stated his department had 438 calls for the month of May. The department received a $10,000 grant from the Miner Foundation for the speed monitor trailer, it has been ordered along with a few accessories and the cost to the city should be around $500 which will come from the COVID funds. This speed monitor will give the department a flow chart of the number of cars, speed and time. Chief Douglas also stated the department has been busy with taking classes, they held the yearly CPR class here at City hall, and Officer Harris and Marcott have been taking a supervisor management leadership course. Chief gave the committee an update on the radio repeater that is going to be updated to digital

sometime in the next 30 days because the old repeater is not working correctly. Chief reported the body and car cams are still a work in progress and IT is doing work behind the scenes. There will be training done on 6/30/23 and should be up and running by July 1st.

Mayor Allhands asked the committee about getting stickers for the golf carts and about allowing gators and mules in the city. The committee is ok with this and so is Chief Douglas but the current ordinance will need to be changed.

A question was asked about lawn mowers pulling trailers with people in them and Chief Douglas said there’s not much that can be done and the same thing for motorized bicycles. Chief suggested if you someone has questions about those to contact the States Attorney’s office.

Alderman Barragree makes a motion to adjourn at 6:55 pm and Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 9-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/public-safety-6-13-23.pdf