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Council approves police training, reviews parks and water‑plant updates, and OKs $145,288 equipment purchase
Summary
Council authorized training for six officers, heard public works updates (storm response, skate-park safety, water-treatment-plant incident), approved a Girl Scout park project, and approved a $145,288 community‑center equipment purchase from perpetual funds.
Batesville — Council members approved several operational items and heard staff updates on storm response, parks and water-treatment projects.
Police and public safety: Chief Scar Bro. said he had no additional commentary beyond the written report but asked the council to approve sending six officers to a peer-support training in Kansas City in June. He told the council early registration is $59 per person if registered by Feb. 20. After a motion and second, the council approved the expenditure; the chief also clarified overtime rules, saying state law sets overtime at anything over 86 hours in a two‑week pay period and that the department had corrected prior comp‑time practices.
Public works and projects: Public works engineer Damon Johnson summarized winter storm operations and said plows had to run slowly because a crust of sleet caused breakaway plow mechanisms to trigger; crews spent many hours clearing roads. He reported riverside project work is progressing (roof work at the event center) and that the small skate‑park structure is complete but remains inside an active construction site and unsafe for public use. On the water‑treatment project, Johnson reported a contractor employee suffered broken leg bones after a large pipe rolled onto him and that the site superintendent unexpectedly died; he said the contractor has provided interim leadership and that the events so far have not delayed overall progress. Johnson also said Tim is coordinating with the state on the Bethesda merger and a public hearing will be scheduled in March.
Community projects and finance: The mayor and council members endorsed Girl Scout Molly Moore’s proposed park cleanup as part of her Gold Award and approved her continuing the project. The mayor reported on a veterans park fundraising effort led by Josh Morrison, saying the campaign aims for about $500,000 and that roughly $40,000 in brick sales have been recorded so far. The council authorized a $145,288 purchase of exercise equipment for the community center to be paid from perpetual funds; the motion to take the funds from perpetual funds was moved, seconded and carried.
The meeting also noted the sale of three surplus trucks at auction and the internal transfer of a 2020 Intimidator from the water‑treatment plant to public works. Council members closed by thanking staff and crews for extended work during the winter storm.
