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Florence ends police narcotics K9 program, council moves unspent funds to contingency
Summary
The Florence City Council voted to discontinue the police narcotics K9 interdiction program and transfer unspent program funds to the city contingency fund; the council also denied proposed graphics for a police Tahoe and tabled hiring decisions pending finance review.
The Florence City Council voted Jan. 13 to discontinue the police narcotics K9 interdiction program and move any unspent funds to the City of Florence Contingency Fund.
Mayor Ben Daniel called the meeting to order. Council Member Debra Bivens moved to discontinue the K9 program; Mayor Pro Tem Mary Condon seconded the motion, which the minutes record as carrying with no opposition. In a separate motion, the council approved transferring unspent K9 program funds to the city contingency account; that motion also passed unanimously.
Council members then voted to deny product donations from Maxdale Cowboy Church and Andice Baptist Church to apply a graphics wrap to Police Tahoe Unit #804 (approximate value $6,000). Mary Condon made the motion; the council recorded no opposition. Separately, the council approved a motion to deny applying graphics to the Chaplain’s assigned vehicle, Police Tahoe #804 (motion by Mary Condon, seconded by Mary Jane Swope).
Several personnel and staffing items tied to police operations were discussed but were tabled for further financial review. The council tabled consideration of hiring a part-time paid traffic enforcement officer (not to exceed 30 hours per week) and tabled discussion of a Patrol Officer vacancy; both actions were taken to allow additional review with city finance staff.
Other related administrative approvals included authorization for the City Administrator to execute an addendum for fleet card services with U.S. Bank and approval to repair a gate damaged during police business (up to $2,473.50), both motions passing without recorded opposition.
The minutes record that council held executive sessions under Texas Government Code Sec. 551.074 and Sec. 551.071 regarding personnel and legal matters related to police staff, including a brief session concerning Lt. David Guthrie and extended sessions regarding Chief of Police Wayne Thompson; the minutes state no public action was taken on those personnel items.
The council’s motions and the tabling of hiring-related items mean the staffing decisions remain pending while the city completes further finance review.
