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Police report traffic enforcement uptick; city and fire officials outline generator, equipment and levy plans
Summary
Police reported 58 citations in the first nine days of February during a red-light enforcement effort; the fire department reported new equipment and is preparing levy legislation; officials discussed a costly generator project for the combined police/firer station and options for funding, including ARPA and other sources.
The city’s police and fire officials provided updates to the Rules and Public Policy Committee, reporting increased traffic enforcement, new equipment deliveries and ongoing planning for a fire levy and building backup power.
Police Chief Cheney said a February “red light blitz” produced 58 total citations in the first nine days of the month and that the department had partnered with Ohio State Patrol on recent enforcement operations. Cheney said the department is nearing completion of its building renovation and is helping Park & Rec with a fireworks event the department was asked to organize. Cheney also reported the department was down four officers; two positions remain frozen pending the outcome of another matter but the department has candidates in the hiring pipeline.
Fire activity reports provided by Fire Chief Plackey, read at the meeting, noted roughly 2,209 incidents in January with about 79.4 percent classified as EMS calls, routine apparatus maintenance, delivery of 30 new LifePak 35 cardiac monitors expected in service by February, a new engine placed in service, and early planning for a smoke‑detector blitz. Plackey told the committee the fire department had formed a committee to work on levy renewal items; staff said there are three pieces of levy legislation to prepare and that the filing deadline for submission is in August.
Committee members asked about generators for the combined police and fire facility after the building suffered several outages last year. City staff said authority to buy generators had been granted and that chief-level staff are researching options. Staff and Cheney said the building’s age (an original portion from 1931 plus later additions) complicates installation; an earlier estimate to provide generator capability and replace breaker panels had been about $326,000 and staff cautioned that in current market conditions the cost could be higher (staff estimated it could approach $500,000). Officials discussed whether to install a single large generator for the shared building or separate units for the police and fire sides and noted replacing breaker panels and updating wiring are likely necessary.
Administrators discussed funding strategies. Several speakers said the city had ARPA funds used for a variety of projects (including roof repairs and salaries). Staff said they would seek external infrastructure funding first and reserve ARPA for uses without other sources. Linking the municipal building to the nearby school’s generator was considered earlier but administrators said it proved infeasible during an extended outage in which the school generator did not carry the full load.
No formal approvals or appropriation votes were recorded at the meeting; staff said they will continue vendor research, pursue potential external funding, and return with more precise cost estimates and draft levy legislation timelines.
