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Overbrook council approves hiring second full-time officer, directs work on school-zone signs
Summary
Council voted 4-0 to hire a second full-time police officer and directed the mayor and police chief to draft an ordinance and add signage after noting new school-zone signs can cost roughly $2,000 each. Council also tasked members to revisit a potential ATV ordinance.
The Overbrook City Council voted Jan. 8 to add a second full-time police officer, with the motion passing 4-0. Council member Hanna Smith moved to hire the officer; the motion passed after Council discussion about budget impact and hiring practices.
Mayor Jon Brady and Police Chief Eric Carlson told the council the state will update speed-limit signs but the city should add visible school-zone signage. Brady said the signs they reviewed run "about $2,000 each," and asked him and Chief Carlson to work together on an ordinance to change or expand the zone. The council recorded that Eric Carlson, Matt Craig and Kyle Maichel will review items for a possible ATV ordinance and return findings for further discussion.
Why it matters: new signage and a staffed full-time officer affect school-area safety and ongoing patrol capacity. Chief Carlson said the department could absorb the additional officer in current staffing plans and using fair-hiring practices.
Council action: motion to hire a second full-time officer (moved by Hanna Smith) passed 4-0. The council also directed staff to draft a school-zone ordinance and investigate signage options, and assigned follow-up on ATV ordinance considerations to Chief Carlson, Matt Craig and Kyle Maichel.
What comes next: city staff will work on the ordinance language and sign options; any ordinance change will return to council for formal consideration and potential vote.
