Published: June 18, 2008 10:51 am            

PS hires police officer

Payne Springs — After months of stalled negotiations the city council of Payne Springs voted to hire a new officer on a part time basis at Tuesday’s night regularly scheduled meeting.

Former Log Cabin Police Officer Sarah Garcia, 29, was selected following the executive session by a four to one vote.

Longtime opponent of police expansion, Councilman Carl Powell, cast the lone dissenting vote.

This decision comes after months of council debate and discussion on the issue.

Garcia is set to start Thursday morning after she is sworn in by City Secretary Shirley Leonard.

The council also voted to seek information on new police equipped trucks as opposed to regular patrol cars.

Newly elected Mayor J.T. Noble made the point that there are not a lot of 150-mile-per-hour high speed pursuits in the Payne Springs area.

“Around here most chases end up in a pasture with the criminal on foot.” Noble said.

Other council members quickly agreed that a truck would be better suited for police operations.

Vic Brazzell made the point that a truck was also useful in the case of locking up out of control animals by placing a cage in the bed.

Noble also noted that stolen property is more easily transported with a truck.

“I only drive pick ups so you know I’m for it,” Councilman Lynn Sorrell said.

Once they decide at a later meeting on whether it should be a Ford, Chevy or a Dodge, they will then seek bids.

The council also decided to look into a previous offer that would allow them a possible trade of their three junk police cruisers for one very used Ford Crown Victoria with 120,000 miles, but apparently in good running condition.

The slowest part of the meeting was when the council discussed how the city could save money by eliminating text messaging from Acting Chief Shane Renberg’s cell phone.

The move will save the city $180 a year, and Renberg said he would pay for the service out of his own pocket.

In other action taken at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled meeting the council;

• voted unanimously to approve a purchasing order system;

• voted unanimously to approve a city audit on a two year basis as opposed to their current annual system;

• voted unanimously to extend the city’s current trash contract for one more year with Nature’s Call Trash Collections;

• discussed the possibility of developing a partnership with the cities of Log Cabin and Caney City to hire an animal control officer to work part-time in each community;

• voted to re-elect Councilman Carol Powell to Mayor Pro Tem for another year

in spite of the fact that Powell voted against himself and voted for Councilman Vic Brazzell.

        

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