Danielsville hires new police chief

Mayor Philip Croya said Tuesday that “there’s no way” the figures Temple was referring to were correct.

City hall consultant Jerry Presley also said the figures Temple referred to are “not totally accurate.” Presley explained that Temple was using figures from a mid-year comparison of revenue and expenses. He said the figures did show that the city’s expenditures were $55,965 for public safety as of May 31 and that the actual budget called for $45,203 to have been spent by May 31. But he said the city had $94,890 left in its public safety budget (as of May 31) for 2011.

He also pointed out that city revenue from fines and forfeitures were over-budget for the year as of May 31 – with the city receiving $10,312 in revenue, while the budget called for $6,379 in revenue.

“That puts us $3,933 (in revenue) over-budget through May 31,” Presley said.

The mayor and council fired police chief Rodney Christian on May 6, and police officer Steve Gary resigned.

Croya said the city had been paying their previous police force too much, noting that Christian was paid almost $20 per hour, with full benefits, while Gary was paid $14.50 per hour.

Temple is in favor of having the off-duty deputies for the sheriff’s office cover the city instead of having a police department. She said she had presented a cost analysis to fellow council members at the July work session that showed the city could save a minimum of $50,000 per year by hiring two sheriff’s deputies to patrol the city at a cost of $66,489 annually. She said the city’s 2011 public safety “net cost” budget is currently $126,805.

Temple suggested the city give the idea a trial run for a year to see how things go.

She said she believes most citizens and businesses agree with her on the matter, noting that she had contacted seven businesses, the three banks in the city and 12 residences to ask their opinion on the matter.

“The general consensus is that it’s a ‘no brainer’ if we can save that kind of money,” Temple said.

Several members of the audience also spoke out against having a city police department, also asking the council to let the sheriff’s office cover the city’s security needs. Businessman Todd Higdon said he had conducted his own straw poll on the matter and that those he asked said the city needs to save the money.

But several council members and acting chief Cliff Moody were critical of the sheriff’s office and their ability to cover the city as well as a police department. Mayor Croya and Faust said they have seen the value of having a city police officer by riding with Moody and part-time officer Brent Zellner on calls and observing how a well-run police office can function.

Faust said he did not feel the sheriff’s office could give the “guaranteed coverage” that a police department can.

“My ethical obligation to this city is to do what I think is right, and that’s the way I have to vote,” Faust said.

The council eventually voted 2-2 on the matter, with Mayor Croya voting “yes” to break the tie. Council members Temple and Jamie Spurlin voted “no.”

Moody will continue to work with the city and Pilkington for the time being. Croya said Tuesday that he expects Moody to go to part-time hours by the end of August.

In other business, the council voted to proceed with the annual Danielsville Fall Festival in October. The former volunteer festival committee opted earlier this year not to hold the festival, but city officials have said they don’t want to see the annual event end. The festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 with the Bobby Compton Band headlining the activities.

The council voted to keep the services of Harris Computer Company to print their tax notices. They also approved a 3-day training seminar in Athens for city clerk Suzanne Ferguson at a cost of $370, plus mileage.