Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Safety Committee met Oct. 8

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Alderman Cahoe, Marcier, Miller, Muench, Anderson, Alderwoman Rohlfs, and Mayor Allhands

ABSENT: Alderman Barragree and Alderwoman DeLahr

GUESTS: Resident Rebecca Burdick, Fire Chief Ken Baier, Nita Dubble with the Fire & Police Commission and Detective Curt Marcott

Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 6:30 pm. During public comment resident Rebecca Burdick reported to the committee that she has created a group called the Iroquois County Neighborhood Watch Group. She has created a Facebook page for residents and has block captains. She stated with the new safe T law its increasing difficult for police departments to be everywhere. She would like to start a homeless registry, and have the city create an ordinance for people camping on private property. She also showed the committee a backpack for kids that a group is providing in Indiana where they have them available for a crisis when the police are called in. She stated her goal is to get a safer community and have the police and the residents work together. Alderman Marcier asked Ms. Burdick what she wanted from the city, and she said she would like for the city to create another ordinance for zero tolerance for drugs and for the committee to be supportive of the group. She also stated there will be a meeting on October 24th at 7:00 pm at the Watseka Theatre.

Detective Marcotte reported the Auxiliary department monthly meeting met at the auxiliary building to winterize the boat and the generator. The department had 7 of 9 members attending the meeting, when they finished winterizing the equipment they went to the police department for training on traffic control at night using flashlights and hand signals. Calls for September were the Big Boy Train for traffic and crowd control. The department also prepared for Harvest Daze on 10/4 to 10/6 and discussed patrol for Trick or Treat on 10/31.

Fire Chief Ken Baier stated the department had 5 fires, 2 first responder calls, 27 ambulance calls, 3 MVA’s calls, 4 Automatic Alarms calls, and 8 other miscellaneous calls for a total of 49 for the month of September. Training for September was fire behavior, touring buildings at Lyons and Hicksgas and farm equipment entrapment at AHW. The department has another new member Justin Posey, they now have 29 members and 6 cadets. Chief stated the 4 station walk through doors are being worked on with punch pads to make the building more secure, this should be done by the end of the week. The department had the annual flow testing completed on all air packs, and the annual pump testing has been completed, as well as the annual ladder truck and ground ladders tested. Chief stated the department held a pork burger fundraiser to help raise money for an automated CRP device that has been purchased. They have raised $15,000 so far with various fundraisers, the device cost $22,000 and the remainder will be paid for on a payment plan. Chief reported fire prevention week is October 6th-12th. The department has also completed fire drills at all the schools. The department has installed 300 fire extinguishers so far since they started the free program.

Nita Dubble with the Fire & Police Commission spoke next. She stated so far they have received 12 applications for the new list. The applications are due back October 18th. She stated using the new company is working out well. She has received 4 applications so far for the chief position. There is another 3 weeks left before they are due.

Detective Curtis Marcott stated the police department had 370 calls for the month of September, which is down 75 from last month. He also stated the committee has before them a copy of an ordinance that will need to be passed at full council dealing with public camping. (no camping on the roads or sidewalks) The department is also looking at new software to run driver’s licenses and license plates. The company they thought about going to is going out of business. The county clerk is in the process of securing funding for a web based software to do report writing and the driver’s licenses and license plates, there will be a minimal cost to the city.

Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to adjourn at 6:56 pm and Alderman Marcier seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/public-safety-10-8-24.pdf