Crossville will get another part-time police officer and has a new animal control officer. Those were among the decisions made at Tuesday night’s village board meeting. On a night where Nancy Osborne and Wes Trout were absent, trustees marched onward with plans and updates on July 5th Independence Day festivities. Village Clerk Selena Harrell had the latest.
I think they just kind of basically updated from how we met a week ago on some things. We do have tickets printed for the 50/50. They’re trying to get stuff squared away on the pickleball tournament. We’ve got two vendors for food and we’ve got somebody that’s going to help wire stuff up in case someone needs a plug because they had talked about another vendor that didn’t have a generator. The Fire Department is going to do breakfast with pancakes, eggs, and sausage we think as long as the softball and pickleball is a go, starting around 7am. And then they’re going to have another meeting on the 23rd at 7pm.
About $2,000 in donations has come in to support efforts and a windscreen to surround the pickleball courts is going to be installed thanks to the generosity of Citizens National Bank.
Chris Hatcher, on behalf of the Crossville Alumni and the Crossville Community Association, spoke up about the groups’ interest in helping financially with improvements in the village and Tiger Park.
Mayor Rick Kuykendall on adding another 8 hours to Chief Mark Wheeler’s 32 hours of coverage for Crossville had this to say.
Last week we talked about fulfilling another 8 hours of police service for the village. We know Mark works 32. We talked about it and I wanted you guys to go out in the community and kind of get some input from people and see what they thought. My feelings is another 8 hours…to me it’s something we need…40 hours of police protection I don’t think is asking too much.
Trustee Bruce Morlock was the lone dissenter saying he wanted to wait to discuss it until the full board could be present. Chief Wheeler also gave his perspective.
32 hours I don’t think is enough for all that goes on in this little town actually. You know, I mean, we could take applications. We’ve already got some people on here that have previously worked here before so you wouldn’t have to do any of your paperwork; it’s already there. And if it doesn’t work, I’ll get rid of them and get somebody else. I’ve done it before when I worked at the Sheriff’s Department. It’s something you [Mayor Kuykendall] ran on.
The pay rate is expected to be $24 per hour. Morlock voted no. Wheeler said since the last meeting, he’s made 23 traffic stops, handled 7 complaints, dealt with one abandoned car, pulled over 2 side by sides, 2 four wheelers, had one medical assist, stopped a handful of bicycles riding around at night with no lights, and issued 22 abatements for property cleanups, handled 2 curfew violations, and a single eviction.
Amanda Mercer will take over animal control for Crossville at a cost to the village of $300 per month. She’ll start her duties on June 16th.
Trustees granted a building permit to Haley Hurts for a 12×43 porch at her Cross Street address. Additionally, a special use permit was granted for 500 Morrell to place a 16×80 mobile home. Mayor Kuykendall says a representative from FEMA will be in the village Thursday morning at 10:30am to go over floodplain information and provide updates to leaders.
Beyond that, Kuykendall says the village intends to employ two young men through WADI’s WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). Read more at Crossville Leaders Sworn In and Appointed to Roles at May Meeting – WRUL-FM
Leaders also agreed to get an eagle atop the flagpole at the Crossville Memorial at the request of local resident Terry Oeth.
The Crossville Village Board adjourned at 7:14pm.
