Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Herington departments report on demos, storm cleanup and an active missing-person search
Summary
Public works, police, fire and code enforcement gave monthly reports: three trailer homes were demolished, crews repaired sidewalks and cleaned ditches, the police reported an active missing-person investigation for James Allen Cole and the fire department recounted drills and certifications.
Department heads reported operations and recent incidents at the Herington City Commission meeting.
Public works said crews demolished three trailer houses at the trailer court, repoured 13 feet of sidewalk at Father P and are cleaning town creeks and ditches. Staff also reported coordinating with Alliance Township to grade Old Lake Road (the township will supply grading and maintenance while the city supplies rock) and preparing to install a fill station at Old Lake for campers. Public works estimated that the demo work cost roughly $1,600 per trailer (covering two employees and equipment hours at city rates) and said dumpsters were the trailer-park owners’ responsibility.
The police chief reported 241 calls for service in August, seven arrests and 85 traffic stops; the department remains short-staffed but has candidates in hiring processes. The chief said officers have been conducting a search for a missing person, identified as James Allen Cole (age 24), using drones and tracking dogs, and that the case has been entered into the national database. "We've been doing a lot to try to track him down," the chief said.
The fire department reported 41 calls in August, including medicals, structure and vehicle fires, and held a water-shuttle drill with neighboring departments that demonstrated roughly 27,000 gallons of water moved on apparatus. The department also noted two staff members advancing in investigations and two EMT students expected to finish training in December.
Code enforcement reported 54 inspections for August across building, electrical, plumbing and roofing permits, 19 cut orders issued, and two violations referred under the criminal code with trials set; one condemned property caught fire and was being secured or abated.
No formal action resulted from these reports; commissioners thanked staff and requested follow-up on specific items such as tree cleanup and code enforcement timelines.
