Following a 45-minute executive session, Holland Village Council approved the hiring of a new police officer.
At the September 7 meeting, council appointed Ed Marckel to the open full-time road patrol position.
Officer Marckel, who currently works part time for the department, begins full time on September 12.
He previously worked for the village in 2007 and began working part time on June 15.
In addition to hiring the new officer, council authorized the purchase of new police radios from Motorola Solutions for $35,837.
Councilman Scott Brown said the department needs to upgrade its current portable radios, noting that in the next few years they will no longer be serviceable.
Motorola Solutions is offering discounted pricing to agencies that purchase the new radios by year’s end, he noted, adding the department will need seven new radios for full-time officers and four for in-car use.
“Part-time officers will be issued older model radios, which will be replaced on a yearly schedule,” he explained. “I would recommend council move forward on this.”
Council president Ryan Spangler, who is an Oregon police officer, agreed. “This is too good not to move on at this point.”
Council also approved the purchase of riot gear from Galls for $4,803 and ammunition from Wolf Hill Trading for $316.
“These are budgeted expenses,” Mr. Brown said, adding that they had been in the budget but stock was unavailable until now.
Other Business
In other business, council:
•Contracted with Harbor, doing business as Lighthouse EAP at an annual cost of $1,312.
The village had contracted with StressCare, but the company is going out of business and will no longer provide behavioral health services as of September 30.
•Approved the addition of seven drives to the new server from PerryproTech at a cost of $6,617.
Mr. Brown said a malfunctioning air conditioner in the IT room caused an older unit–which was nearing the end of its useful life–to malfunction.
“The air conditioning has been repaired and a remote sensor will be researched and installed to prevent any future incidents,” he added.
•Paid bills totaling $78,576.
•Announced that Walker Funeral Homes will donate a new tree for the annual Christmas tree lighting, which will be held in conjunction with Happy Holland Days on Saturday, December 4.
•Heard from Mayor Lee Irons that the Holloway Road and Hamilton Drive projects are complete.
“The resurfacing of Hall Street is planned for next summer when school is out,” he said.
•Announced that the preschool trick or treat scheduled for Friday, October 29, is canceled due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases among children.
After consulting with the Springfield Township fire chief, the mayor decided “to err on the side of caution” and cancel this year’s event.
The community development committee, which organizes the trick or treat, plans to resume the event next year on Friday, October 28.
The next village council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 21 in council chambers 1245 Clarion Avenue, and is open to the public. Due to the current spread of COVID-19, mask protocols have been reinstated.
~Jane Maiolo
