By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Village of New Washington will be getting a new Fire Chief after village council approved the appointment of Mark Heefner to the position Monday night.
Heefner will replace Dick Ackerman who stepped down from the position on September 30 due to health reasons. Prior to the appointment, Mayor Ben Lash explained that he along with clerk Julie Cronau went to the village’s fire meeting, and concluded that the volunteer fire department wanted Heefner to be chief. Lash also noted that he spoke with Ackerman and took his opinion into account before requesting for the appointment of Heefner.
Village Council also approved to remove Police Officer Robert Whitcomb from probationary officer and move him to permanent part time officer.
Tim Suver gave an update on this past year’s Hatchery Festival. In his update Suver thanked Norm Lucius and the street department for their work. Suver noted that the festival made $2,400 which would go toward the festival next year, if there is a festival. Suver reported that if there is a festival the village wouldn’t need to worry about paying for insurance as Cronau had already paid for next year. Suver closed out thanking the town for all the help with the 2016 Hatchery Festival. If there will be a Hatchery Festival next year, Suver explained depending what the Hatchery Festival Committee decides that he would be asking permission for the June festival in late February.
Police Chief Jeffery Shook spoke to council about the possibility of leasing or purchasing a new vehicle for the department. Shook noted that there would be no differences in warranty between purchasing the car and leasing it. Shook explained he preferred leasing the vehicle as opposed to purchasing the vehicle outright, as it would allow the village to offset costs over a five-year period for the car compared with purchasing it for $36,000. Shook reported that the cost would be for a fully stocked police vehicle, but the department could offset the costs by reusing equipment. Shook explained that he preferred an SUV over the car due to the size of the vehicles, noting that it would be easier to put arrested individuals into a Ford Explorer as opposed to a Ford Taurus.
When asked why the chief recommended a Ford vehicle, and not another vehicle, the chief noted that costs were a determining factor.
“My personal opinion, I don’t want to mess with Dodge again,” Shook said. “I am not opposed to a Chevy, but it costs $55,000 for one of their SUV’s.”
Shook was requested by council to provide the same write up for a car that he had provided for an SUV.
In Lucius’ report to council, Lucius noted that Ziggler’s Electric had come in to work on some of the electrical issues around town. This included fixing the lighting at the pool and gazebo.
Lucius also noted that the swimming pool had been winterized, and that the sinkhole on Mansfield Street had been replaced. Lucius reported that a busted tile was the cause of the sinkhole.