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Belvidere committee accepts $16,000 ALPR grant as police and fire chiefs report rising calls
Summary
At its Sept. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting, Belvidere City leaders approved a $16,000 Organized Retail Crime grant to cover automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) operating costs and heard police and fire chiefs warn of higher call volumes and staffing pressures.
Belvidere City’s Committee of the Whole approved a $16,000 Organized Retail Crime Program grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on Sept. 22 to pay operating costs for existing automated license‑plate readers and to fund one additional camera, Police Chief Woody said.
“We were awarded the police department $16,000 as part of the organized retail crime grant,” Chief Woody said, asking the committee to authorize the mayor and finance director to execute documents necessary to accept the funds. Ald. Albertini moved to accept the grant and, per the transcript, the motion was seconded by “Ald. Hoinis.” The committee approved the measure by voice vote.
Chief Woody also told the committee the department has been actively recruiting: a peer interview board reviewed ten entry‑level applicants last month, seven passed to background checks and the department hopes to hire four officers for the January academy. He noted the department has four vacancies and two officers on leave, and he described a $500,000 estimate to remodel the patrol office, with only about $200,000 currently allocated. Woody said he is seeking grant funding and raised the prospect of using a city‑owned parcel across from the PSP for expansion.
Fire Chief Schadl reported higher call volumes and several serious incidents. “In the past 30 days, we have had 326 calls for service, an average of 10.9 calls a shift,” Chief Schadl said, adding the department handled seven building fires (one in Farmington), 236 emergency medical calls and 195 ambulance transports over the period. He told the committee contractor Scandrolia plans to begin apparatus‑bay construction about Oct. 22 and expects to complete it a few weeks after parts arrive.
The committee’s actions on the ALPR grant authorize city officials to accept and administer the award; no fiscal impact beyond the grant’s use was debated at the meeting. The chiefs answered a few council questions about staffing, construction timing and reimbursement for security details provided for outside events. The committee adjourned after completing the evening’s agenda.
