Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Safety Committee met Feb. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

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

ABSENT: Alderman Anderson

GUESTS: Auxiliary Officer Erik Buikema, Fire Chief Ken Baier, Nita Dubble with the Police and Fire Commission and Police Chief Jeremy Douglas

Alderman Barragree opened the meeting at 6:30 pm. There was no public comment. Auxiliary Officer Eric Buikema stated his department helped with a detail at WCHS for their winter ball and at Silo Pub for an event they had. There were no issues at either event. The monthly meeting they had discussion of current and upcoming events and radio etiquette, along with Officer Spears meeting with each officer individually and the new red and blue lights were handed out with instructions on how to install and when to use and not to use. Erik stated the department has interviewed Jonathan Carter and they would like to place him on the roster. He is currently on the Gilman Fire Department, was a correctional officer in Florida and is involved with Emergency Management Association. Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to recommend to the Council to put Jonathon Carter on the Auxiliary Department Roster and Alderwoman Rohlfs seconded. Roll call carried 8-0.

Fire Chief Ken Baier stated his department had 5 fires, 6 first responder, 26 ambulance, 3 MVA’s, 4 Automatic Alarms, 1 Auto Aid Call, and 7 other miscellaneous calls for a total of 52 calls for the month of January. Training in January consisted of ice rescue, NICOR training, SBCA timed drills, station maintenance and placement of equipment on 2961. Chief stated there are 6 personnel enrolled in the fire academy for 16 weeks and they will finish in June. Chief stated the new vehicle 2961 is in service and is just needing decals. Chief stated if you see the vehicle out and about during the day its because they are doing driver training. Chief also reported there will be an ordinance coming up for full council for the surplus of the other truck that Sheldon is wanting to purchase. Chief stated the department is staffed now Monday thru Friday beginning February 1st and things are going well. They have had 6 Ems calls and 5 fire calls and the time to respond to fire calls has gone down dramatically because the department is being staffed during the day.

Nita Dubble with the Fire and Police Commission spoke next. She stated the commission had 2 on the list and they have now added a 3rd. Chief will talk about doing that hire next. Nita stated she has found an online company that will do the testing. This will be done all online for a cost of $1800.00. The company will post a link and the potential officers if interested do the testing

online and if they would pass that portion then they would do the agility and oral interviews here. There is a $45 charge for the applicant and that gets applied to the $1800 fee. Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to recommend to the Council to move forward with the online company Stanard & Associates Inc. with the $1800.00 fee and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 8-0. Nita stated she also provided to the committee another company that lists job postings and just as information only Nita stated the city is on the low end of the pay scale when looking at the other job postings. Nita stated Dawn Turcany’s position is up March 1st and she would like for the city to re appoint her. Alderman Barragree makes a motion to recommend to the council to re appoint Dawn Turcany to the Police and Fire Commission Board for a 3-year term to end March 31st, 2027, and Alderman Miller seconded. Roll call carried 8-0.

Police Chief Jeremy Douglas stated his department had 339 calls for service during the month of January. Chief stated the Charger has been taken out to Ford, and the new car 4 should be on the road hopefully Wednesday or Thursday. The department has acquired at no cost 2 rear seat cameras that are going to be installed in car 8 and the Explorer. Officer Forbes, Douglas and Corriveau attended an undercover class and Sgt Harris and Marcot attended an Alice Training class. Chief stated Nick Juarez has been hired on with the department, his power test is April 8th, and he will be doing FTO training soon, and his school will start May 8th in Decatur. Chief reported the monitors in the squad room, Kendra’s office and Cathy’s office are up and running. There was a short discussion concerning the cameras in the parks and how they will be monitored in city hall.

The committee thanked the Police Department for the drug activity arrests that have been made recently.

Alderman Barragree makes a motion to adjourn at 6:52 pm and Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 8-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/public-safety-2-13-24.pdf