Jewett hires new police officer

The City of Jewett held its regular Council Meeting on November 9, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Jewett City Hall. All Council members were present.

Interim Police Chief Marty Navarro gave the Jewett Police Department report for October and presented Daniel Lee Cheney as a candidate to fill the current police officer opening, pending approval from the City Council. Three applications were received by the deadline of Oc- tober 16, 2009 and two of the applicants were interviewed by the interview committee. Cheney with twelve years experience in the Military Police was the unanimous selection. The Council voted to hire Cheney.

Navarro reported that there had been several inquiries from citizens about a neighborhood watch group. A meeting concerning the formation of such group will be held Friday, November 13 at the Jewett City Hall.

Kristi Vandergriff gave the Chamber of Commerce report saying next Tuesday new board members will be elected. A “lunch with Santa” is planned for December 5.

Jewett Volunteer Fire Chief David Kirkpatrick requested $10,000 from the Hotel/Motel funds to help finance the January 2010 Coon Hunt. Kirkpatrick explained that the VFD raises $8 to $9 thousand dollars from the hunt and much more revenue is brought into the city by hunters. The Council approved the request.

Maida Simpson, a Jewett resident, asked “What are you doing to protect the elderly in the community? We have a lot of older widows who are scared to go to bed at night.”

Chief Navarro answered that with the addition of the new officer patrols would be stepped up. With only two officers there has been no one on the morning shift but now there will be someone on duty around the clock. He said that having an officer in the community is a big deterrent and pointed out that neither Marquez nor Centerville has city police officers.

Simpson said she would like to hold a fund raiser to raise money to buy door knob alarms and give them to the widows in the community. These small alarms come in packs of two and are battery operated. When attached to a door or window and activated the alarm makes a loud noise which could both scare the would-be assailant and awaken the resident.

Mayor Judi Kirkpatrick proposed the city office move to a 10 hour per day/4 day work week in an effort to save on the electric bill and provide better service hours to citizens. City secretary Virginia Sitton said the savings on the electricity alone would be 20%. The later hours would provide availability for customers who find it hard to come in during the current hours. John Sitton requested that hard numbers be provided and that the request be tabled until the next meeting. The Council agreed.