Ephrata Council greenlights conditional K-9 program agreement and reviews crossing-guard proposal

Ephrata Borough Council on Feb. 9 conditionally authorized an agreement with the Friends of the Ephrata Police Foundation to support a K-9 program, contingent on the Foundation’s approval and the Borough Solicitor’s review. The Public Safety Committee had discussed a proposed timeline and memorialized that the Foundation was awaiting a final version of the agreement from the Borough for review; the item was then conditionally authorized by the full council.

Chief Christopher McKim, Lt. Randolph and representatives of the Foundation — including Steve DeWeese — were acknowledged in committee discussion and later thanked by the chief during Council announcements for their work on the item. The minutes show the committee tabled the formal agreement initially while clarifying the Foundation’s position, then recommended conditional authorization when the Foundation and solicitor approvals were obtained.

Separately, the Public Safety Committee reviewed a proposal presented by Lt. Randolph to use a private contractor, Crossing Guard Services, LLC, to provide school crossing guard services for the Ephrata Area School District within Borough limits. The proposal’s cost model and distribution with the school district were described; the plan would seek to hire existing crossing guards in good standing who wish to continue. The committee expressed interest in continuing to pursue that option; the minutes do not show a final contract award on the crossing-guard item.

Council recorded the K-9 agreement authorization as carried unanimously with a conditional approval phrased in the minutes as "subject to approval by the Foundation and the Borough Solicitor." The minutes do not include contract text, funding details, or a timeline for implementation beyond the committee-provided timeline from the Foundation.