Staff photo/CHAD ABSHIRE Work began on the Gilbert Sidewalk Project June 30 at Gilbert Town Hall. There is no estimation as to when the work will be finished. People with business at town hall are asked to park either inside the fenced area of town hall or parallel to the fence . As far as parking in front of town hall as normal, "It wouldn't be smart to park in an area where construction work is going on," Vivian Carter, with Gilbert Town Hall, said. 

slideshow

CHAD ABSHIRE

Staff Writer

GILBERT — The Gilbert Town Council met last night and discussed a few topics in a shortened meeting.

Mayor Vivian Livingood and Council Randy Livingood were not present as they were on vacation, so Town Recorder Michael Fox led the meeting.

Bids were heard regarding construction of a building behind town hall for storing water equipment. A lengthy discussion took place, but in the end it was tabled to “to see what the check book says,” Fox said.

Afterwards, Gilbert Chief of Police Mike Rasmussen spoke to the council, providing an update on the police department.

Rasmussen said that the new police vehicles should be in the city on Wednesday. He said that he opted to have them delivered instead of flying down to Florida to drive them back. The cost was $1,350, which Rasmussen said was a “no brainer.” He said it was cheaper and had less liability.

The council stated that they would like to keep one car that they have, and Rasmussen said that would not be an issue besides being short on equipment for one of the new vehicles incoming.

“We’ll need about $1,500 to fully equip the Explorer,” Rasmussen said.

The chief also said that the Town of Matewan had expressed interest in one of Gilbert’s old police vehicles, but the council took no action in suggesting a price.

As far as which car the city will keep.

“I don’t like that white Impala,” Rasmussen said. “Nobody drives it, nobody likes it. But it has been the more cost-friendly car.”

It was suggested to keep it as a court and transportation car, and possibly as a punishment.

“If the officers can’t keep their new ones clean, they’ll drive that one for a month,” Rasmussen said.

The chief also asked for two badges at $65 each and three dashboard cameras at $100 each. He also said that the police department had applied for a Department of Justice bulletproof vest grant, which would pay 50 percent of the price or 100 percent “if the town showed hardship,” Rasmussen said, but had yet to hear anything back.

The council agreed to each item for the police department.

They also commended the Gilbert Volunteer Fire Department and the GPD on handling the chaos that the storms wrought.

“I’m amazed at the way they were able to handle it,” Fox said. “We really appreciate it.”

Lastly, the council had the first reading of the police department’s new proposed policy and procedure manual.

“These guys know what they want and they know what they need,” Councilman Curtis Lester said.

Assistant Chief N.A. Glandon said that the manual was based around what former policemen did and didn’t do, appearance and dress, use of force, how to do a pursuit and so on.

There were no questions from the council and a motion was carried to accept the first reading.

The Gilbert Town Council will meet again on Wednesday, June 25, at 10 a.m. to finalize documentation on the town’s upcoming water projects. Afterwards, work can begin. The next regular council meeting will be held Aug. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public and will be held at town hall.