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Parks, planning and police give year‑end and operational updates; police report $82,000 state task‑force reimbursement
Summary
Parks and Recreation reported 4,291 participants in 2024 and 101 scholarships totaling $13,753; Planning reported zoning map corrections and ongoing comp plan work; Police announced promotions, lifesaving awards, six vacancies and a $82,000 Indiana Crime Guns Task Force reimbursement.
Several department heads gave routine operational updates at the Jan. 9 Avon Town Council meeting.
Parks and Recreation
Shelby Pride, director of Parks and Recreation, said staff worked extended hours during recent snow events to clear sidewalks, trails and sports‑field access. Pride reported 4,291 program participants in 2024 — 667 more than 2023 — and said the department awarded 101 scholarships totaling $13,753. The department added 16 new programs and offered 109 total programs across eight sports, plus golf and multiple strength, speed and clinic offerings. Pride said the Parks and Recreation Board (PRBC) will meet Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Planning
Planning Director Linda Albrum said the town pulled an inaccurate zoning map from the public website and staff have been researching corrections; she expected the corrected map to be returned to Beacon the week following the meeting. Albrum said the comprehensive plan update steering committee will next review the future land use map and several focus areas. She also listed upcoming Plan Commission agenda items including a rezone (the Briarwood matter introduced at this meeting), preliminary plat for Laurel Heights and a lighter February docket.
Police
Chief Sean Stoop told the council the mayor’s merit board certified a sergeant promotion list and the department promoted Officer John Flowers to sergeant. Stoop presented lifesaving awards to Officers Kevin Roche, Pete Michael and Eric Cheek for their roles in administering lifesaving techniques during an incident. Detective Hitchman has moved into the investigations division and begun field training. The Police Department reported six current vacancies; testing for candidates was scheduled for Jan. 18 with more than 300 online applicants registered. Stoop also said the department received a reimbursement of $82,000 from the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to offset salary and overtime for the detective assigned to that task force.
All three department leaders thanked public works and contracted crews for snow removal efforts and noted continued cleanup and touch‑up work after the storm.
