Comer council responds to vandalism at Arnold Park

City policy requires that the park be secured at night, a rule that has not been enforced in recent years. The council instructed the public works and police departments to obtain new chains and padlocks, and make sure the gates are locked at sunset each night. The council also called for a cable be installed to prevent vehicles from driving around the fence and entering the park through an unsecured section of the property.

The council reactivated a seven-year-old plan to build a walking path around the park. The path will be eight feet wide and covered with gravel dust. Work to clear some growth from the back part of the park will improve visibility of the path making it more secure for walkers.

In another matter, an animated discussion about the relationship between the city government and the volunteer fire department developed when the fire department asked the city to pay for pipes and connectors used to extend city water lines to the back of the fire department for use in a training area. The department provided the labor to put in approximately 400 feet of water line with connectors and valves to a hydrant in the training area.

The cost of the supplies was $2,468. The city already contributes $44,000 a year to the VFD. The department may ask for a formal contract with the city similar to the one they have with Madison County. Action on the requests was tabled until the April meeting.

After receiving an offer from a computer company to upgrade the city computer system and provide off site backup of city data for a price of $1100 a month, the city chose to purchase new equipment locally, to include an auxiliary hard drive. City records can be backed up to the drive, which will be stored in a fire-proof safe each night. The new computers, which will include machines for the police and water departments will cost approximately $3,000.

The council set rental rates for the newly completed travel Museum. Rental to use the facility was set at $200 per day and a refundable $250 deposit to protect the city from any damage or cleanup costs.

The Comer Police Department made six arrests in February and wrote 30 citations. They investigated 13 incidents and two accidents and responded to 170 calls for service.