Mayor suspends Florence police chief
Action taken Monday afternoon at the Florence City Council meeting resulted in the suspension of Police Chief Creighton Smith.
Mayor Jeanie Meirowsky told the council that Smith had tendered a verbal resignation to her Feb. 14, effective on that date. She noted that he had also turned in his badges and uniforms.
Smith was to have appeared before the council in person or submitted a written resignation by meeting time, but failed to do either.
Meirowsky asked for a motion to accept Smith's verbal resignation. Council member Bev Baldwin said, "I would like to hear his story first."
Larry Timm said he was not comfortable with accepting a verbal resignation. "I would like to see it in writing," he said.
Meirowsky then called for a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The council gave unanimous approval from Dan Ludwig on a motion to that effect, seconded by Timm.
After returning to open session, the mayor said she would entertain a motion to accept Smith's verbal resignation. No motion was made.
"As mayor, I then suspend Creighton Smith from his job as chief of police without pay, pending further investigation," said Meirowsky.
Meirowsky also was in receipt of a written resignation from reserve officer Lori Sprowls, effective Feb. 14. Timm moved to accept the resignation and Baldwin seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
Reilly Reid and Eric Yoder presented the council with information on options available to the fire department in its search to acquire a "new" fire truck. A truck owned by the Newton Fire Department and one from a Missouri fire department were compared in the presentation to the council.
Financing of each vehicle also was discussed.
Time constraints for bidding on the truck in Newton and the fact that the truck in Missouri cannot be examined for a week and a half, left the council with little room in its attempt to ensure that the city ends up with a needed fire truck.
Council members agreed to allow Reid to pursue the bid process with the Newton department, while allowing Yoder to pursue talks with the owners of the other truck.
In other business:
— The council heard that city superintendent Stuart Funk had issued a "boil water advisory" for the city as a result of the heavy rains of last Thursday. The advisory will be in effect indefinitely.
— approved a one time waiver of the water bills for Holy Family Parish and Shirley Moore in the amounts of $149.50 and $26.55 respectively. It is the policy of the city to waive the water portion of the utility bill one time only if a residence or business has a water leak.
— approved warrants totaling $15, 247.01.
— issued a burn permit to the city to burn the ditch around the old grade school to clear debris and poison ivy. The permit is contingent upon the approval of the fire chief.
— entered another executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. City employees Funk, Ken Hoffman, and Rick Burcky were included. No action was taken after returning to open meeting.
