INGALLS — Ingalls town council approved the purchase of new body cameras and new software for local police officers.
Approving funds for the equipment and software, and plans about a new trucking business, were some of the things discussed during town council meetings in July.
Cost for the police body cams will be $350 per month for all seven cameras, for a total of $4,200 per year, said police chief Chris Thompson.
The funds to pay for the new technology are expected to come out of the town’s public safety fund.
In other town business:
• Town manager Tim Millikan said the planning commission approved General Truck’s final business plan after the company’s sign proposal met town standards.
• Community Crossing grant-funded road repair projects are under way and going well, Millikan said. Ingalls received $578,977 last year from the Indiana Department of Transportation program for local road repair and maintenance.
• Millikan discussed using town maintenance personnel as daytime firefighters/EMTs when needed. The council was not in favor of the idea of workers leaving the job for emergencies and did not support the plan.
• Millikan informed the council of the resignation of Jake Nix, a maintenance worker. His replacement has yet to be named.
• In the fire department report, fire chief Jeremy Boat said he is actively recruiting firefighters. Boat also said the ambulance was in need of repairs. The town accepted the resignation of Casey Hardin, fire department vice president.
• The council was informed Councilman Tim Green has stepped down as the president of the newly created redevelopment committee. Green also recently stepped down as leader of other town bodies, including town council, water board and storm water committee.
• During recent water board meetings, Millikan presented bids for drainage work behind the fire and police stations and for a parking lot at Third Avenue and Meridian Street.
Smith Projects was the only bidder. The company submitted a price of $45,232 for the drainage project behind the police/fire stations, which the water board accepted. The board rejected a bid for the parking lot.
• Water Superintendent Randy McVay told the water board there was a need to replace a couple of fire hydrants in Inman Estates and on Huston Street.
McVay also said the town needs a new meter system. He planned to have a representative from a company give a presentation.