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Police chief asks council to fund $13,000 lean-to for squad cars; special meeting set
Summary
Chief Matt Stringham asked the council on Sept. 8 to back roughly $13,000 to attach a lean-to to the new fire building to shelter patrol cars; Mayor Jeff Lillie scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 18 to identify funding, noting the item was not budgeted.
Police Chief Matt Stringham told the Earlham City Council on Sept. 8 that National Night Out and the recent RVTV event went well and that the first weeks of school had passed without major incidents. He said he is arranging gun qualifications for officers and that Madison County has repaired speed signs on nearby roads.
Stringham said he is exploring a lean-to that would attach to a new fire building so patrol cars would not be parked outside and exposed. "The quote we got was about $13,000.00 and would like to see if you would back this and find the funds to help get this done," he said.
Mayor Jeff Lillie responded that the item was not budgeted and that the council would need to hold a special meeting to identify funding; the minutes record a special meeting set for Sept. 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Council discussion at the meeting also raised alternative ideas, including adding overhead doors to an existing building rather than building a lean-to, and questions about what would happen to the old griller building if the fire department constructs a new station. The minutes record the council agreed to further explore options and consider funding at the special meeting.
Next steps A special council meeting on Sept. 18 is scheduled to consider funding for the lean-to and to address related insurance coverage and budget allocation questions raised by the mayor.
