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Mansfield council approves funding for nine new officers’ police academy seats and accepts $15,968 grant for break room
Summary
The council voted unanimously to fund nine new Mansfield Police Department hires to attend North Central State College Police Academy and to accept a $15,968.77 grant from the Richland County Foundation for a police break room to be built in part of the old firing range.
The Mansfield City Council voted unanimously to authorize the safety service director to pay for nine new Mansfield Police Department hires to attend the North Central State College Police Academy and to accept a $15,968.77 grant from the Richland County Foundation to improve a police break room.
The bills passed as emergency measures in the council caucus after a presentation from the police chief, who described a donor match and fund-raising effort coordinated through the Richland County Foundation. “We put up a pledge of up to $10,000 match of any funds that the foundation could raise,” the chief said, and later reported “it was $15,968 is in that account.” The chief said the department is considering framing off part of the old firing range to create a break room where officers can rest, store gear and warm up meals; maintenance staff may complete the work if feasible.
Council members asked for cost estimates and a timeline; the chief said no firm estimate had been established and described the project as “fluid,” adding that the city would stay under budget and reassess if costs rose. He explained the donated funds would remain at the foundation and be accessed as reimbursements rather than delivered as a lump-sum check.
Bill 25-145, authorizing academy tuition and associated costs for nine new hires, was moved and seconded and passed by an 8–0 vote. Bill 25-146, to accept and appropriate $15,968.77 from the Richland County Foundation for break-room improvements, also passed 8–0. Council did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; outcomes were announced as unanimous.
The council’s action clears the way for the recruits to attend the academy and for staff to solicit quotes and move forward on break-room planning. No construction contract or detailed budget was approved during the meeting; council and staff said they would pursue quotes and reassess if the project’s scope or cost changes.
