The O-W Police Committee met on Tuesday, December 2.
The Equipment Fund was discussed. Owen Clerk Tracy Rau had gotten interest rates from the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP), two certificates of deposit, and a money market sweep account. Committee chair Pam Jaffke said she wants to keep the account separate. Committee member Bob Wilczek said the LGIP had the highest interest. Committee member Larry Klabon said the rate is down a little but the history is good. A question was asked about the interest rate for LGIP and the response was that it is variable. Klabon said the LGIP also had the advantage that they could draw out the money with no penalty if something happened and they needed it. Wilczek felt the LGIP was a good idea. Klabon said they would be able to take out what was needed and leave the rest. Jaffke asked if there was a minimum for a sweep account and there is. The committee voted to move the Equipment Fund savings to the LGIP.
Under the Treasurer’s Report, Wilczek asked if they could also move the K-9 savings to a LGIP account. The answer was yes. It will be put on the next agenda for discussion.
A number of questions were asked by Klabon before the bills were approved. The Axon bill is quarterly for the tasers. Chief Patrick Fehlman said they could look into something different when the contract is up. They went with this option at the time because the tasers the department had were so old. There was a question about a bill for a blood draw. Fehlman said this is the first time they have been billed and they are supposed to be billed. They can try to recover the cost through restitution payments. They got new tires for two of the squads and replaced a ball joint. One bill was for a Kevlar vest for Officer Jason Scheffler. The payment for Lexipol will be reimbursed by the department’s insurance. They got one intoximeter free and paid for one. They need to be maintained but Officer Jake Haugstad is certified to calibrate them. There was a bill for K-9 Jimi’s food. It was from May to current. Officer Haugstad doesn’t turn it in every month. The Cenex card allows them to purchase gas and get invoiced for it.
Chief Fehlman said they have had 25 adult arrests, 51 assists to other agencies, and seven animal bites so far this year.