LAPEL — Lapel Town Council approved the purchase of new firearms for police and the hiring of part-time police officers at a recent meeting, while also introducing a new town attorney and approving giving Town Hall a fresh coat of paint.
Police chief Kelly Naselroad also received approval from the council to use a weapons upgrade program to trade in the Lapel Police Department’s five-year old guns at a cost of $129 each. He also received permission to purchase additional magazines for the guns to be used for duty and for practice ammo.
The total cost is estimated at about $1,316 and will be taken out of the police department ammunition budget. The deal is expected to save the town about $1,000, Naselroad said.
Naselroad also received approval to hire three part-time officers to provide relief to the existing police department; one full-time officer is recovering from a foot injury, and another is at the police academy.
The part-time officers will save the town hundreds of dollars per week currently being paid as overtime to existing officers, each of whom has been working 16 hours of overtime to cover for their colleagues.
The council waived the requirement for background checks because all three of the part-time officers being hired are already working for police departments in Edgewood, Elwood and Pendleton.
In other police business, Naselroad informed the council he is looking into the current golf cart ordinance and updating enforcement regulations. Right now, the only part of the ordinance actively being enforced is ensuring all golf carts are registered, he said.
Speeding, seat belt use and passenger limit also must be looked at, he said.
In a preventive move, to save costs down the road, the council agreed to paint the outside of Town Hall at an estimated cost of about $4,800. The money is being spent to primarily stop the deterioration of the stucco on the south side of the building, council members said.
The new paint job also will give the building, located at 825 Main St., a fresher look.
In other news, the council:
• Introduced town attorney Ashley Hopper from Graham, Regnier, Farrer and Wilson, the town’s new legal firm.
• Approved the purchase of 50 new water meters to have in stock, as either replacements for broken ones or for use in the final stages of the town’s water meter replacement program.
