During the most recent session of the Indianola Board of Aldermen, the city lawmakers voted to approve the launch of a study to find out what’s needed to combat the high volume of crime in the southern-most portion of the city and the practicability of a police substation.
Alderman Sam Brock introduced the motion subsequent to statements made by NAACP President Charles Modley. Modley’s statements included a request for officer pay raises, remarks on the rise in crime and a call for the establishment of a supplemental police station in the Southgate area.
Alderman Marvin Elder thanked Modley for his comments and reminded him that Chief Edrick Hall had already addressed the officer-pay issue with the board at a prior meeting and was slated to make a presentation on his recommendations as soon as he arrived. Hall was reportedly addressing a police matter and was running late.
Addressing Modley, Brock said, “I condone some of your remarks.” Then, turning his attention to Mayor Steve Rosenthal, Brock initially said, “I want to make a motion that we do a feasibility study of what is needed to provide safety to those people in the area where that crime is being committed.”
However, Rosenthal asked Brock to hold his motion and make it after Chief Hall had presented his officer-pay increase proposal. Later, in re-stating his motion, Brock mentioned Modley’s earlier request and included wording that specifically mentioned a study on the practicality of establishing a substation in the southern portion of the city.
He said, “We knowed before Chief Hall became chief that there was a problem down in Southgate, it ain't just become no problem. Anybody that’s been staying here more than 15 years know.”
In his address, Modley had provided what he indicated was statistical information on major crimes in the city and the impact of those crimes and urged the city leaders to hire the number of officers required to adequately patrol the city.
In addition, he made a plea for the auxiliary police station, indicating that it was an idea he had presented several times before. He said, “If you look at it, all of our murders now, the majority of our murders have taken place in that Southgate area. You need to look at, have a vision of putting a substation in the Southgate area.”
Modley’s logic is that an additional headquarters in that area will enhance citizen’s safety. “Just the presence is going to make the citizens feel more safe down there,” he said. He mentioned that this was the third time he has presented the idea to the city leaders and asserted that there is a need.
Addressing Modley’s present and prior appeals, Rosenthal reminded him that the law enforcement officials that were consulted did not feel as though a substation would be an effective solution.
Rosenthal said, “Their problem is that we never dispatch a car from the station, they’re always dispatched from the street, so having a station down there would actually be a deterrent, not an asset.”
He said although the city has considered Modley’s petitions, the law enforcement officials typically offered alternative solutions instead.
In other business,
Hall, Brock and City Engineer Ron Cassada have been reviewing the city truck route maps to determine if changes need to be made. Hall said he was in agreement with some of Brock’s proposed changes, but more information was needed from some of the merchants.
They discussed several revisions and Alderman Darrell Simpson made a motion to give the proposed modification to the engineer for his opinion and Rosenthal suggested including Slaughter & Associates, the firm that is working on the city’s comprehensive plan.
The lawmakers also approved updating the bank signature cards to remove former City Clerk Lashanda Moore and add Purchasing Clerk Shamekia Harvey.
After a question by Brock on the status of completion on some jobs given to the public works department, Rosenthal asserted that in order to assure timely and proper completion of the work that calls should be made directly to the department. “Don’t tell the men out in the street, call public works because the work orders are issued out of the office.”
Rosenthal asserted that a request given to a worker may never reach the office and therefore no work order would be issued. He suggested that as a good practice for both the aldermen and the citizens. “The men are out there to fix it, not to take the order,” he said.
They also approved the renewal of the agreement with Lee Rodgers and Doug Russell to continue as consultants for the city’s property and casualty insurance coverage.
The motions from the executive session included the removal of two employees from probationary status, a 30-day extension of probation for another, the hiring of a firefighter and the acceptance of the resignations of two public works employees.
