Coffeeville Keeps Police Slots At Four During March Meeting

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

COFFEEVILLE – Police Chief Mark Martin addressed the town board during their regular monthly meeting March 3 regarding the number of employees in the police department.

Martin explained to aldermen that Officer Paul Thomas had submitted his resignation and the department was left with only four officers, three full-time and one part-time.

The police chief asked the board to decide if they wanted to employ five officers or if they wanted to remain at four. At the lower level the department could not provide 24-hour coverage.

Martin added that he had spoken with Sheriff Lance Humphreys about helping with coverage when a Coffeeville officer was not on duty. Humphreys agreed to help if manpower was available.

After discussion, Alderman Joe Bourn motioned to limit employment at the police department to four, plus the part-time officer as needed, and rotate coverage so as to not operate on the same schedule every week.

The board had already voted in October 2007 to limit the number of employees in the department to four.

Among other actions the Board of Aldermen:

• Agreed to let Noel Hughes continue grass cutting twice a month at the cemetery for $600 per cutting;

• Approved sending Rebecca McCullar to court clerk training;

• Approved sending Patricia Moody to town clerk training in Oxford;

• Addressed public concerns including potholes on Hwy. 330, run-down homes on Tennessee Street, stray dogs, Johnson’s Rec Center, Nick’s Place, and road bank on Rayburn Street;

• Paid claims as presented.

Present at the March meeting were Mayor Mack Burns, Aldermen Michael Ayers, Joe Bourn, Johnny Roland, William Shelton, Mack Dudley, Town Clerk Patricia Moody, Police Chief Mark Martin, and City Attorney William L. Maxey.

The April meeting was held on Apr. 7 and will be reported later. Among the agenda items listed are a zoning violation, Miss. Rural Water training for board members, library funding increase, assessment fees, truck for town crew, and the city hall roof.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at City Hall.