By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Belle officials voted 3-0 on Friday during a special open session meeting to approve the police services contract with Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman, Lt. Scott John, and nine citizens present at the city board chambers.
“I’ll get the contract signed and sent to Maries County,” Mayor Josh Seaver said at the Jan. 31 meeting. A check already written out was included.
The contract began on Saturday, Feb. 1.
During the Jan. 14 city meeting, Seaver said the city voted to outsource the police services, but did not approve a contract. At that point the city had received a bid but had not negotiated terms. He called a Jan. 20 closed session meeting for the city to review the potential contract with their attorney, Mary Weston, before changing “some verbiage” according to officials. The new contract outlines clarification of who provides equipment and when pay raises should take place.
Seaver asked Aldermen Tony Gieck, Ken Stanfield and Jeanette Struemph if they had read the contract as presented on Friday.
“It all looks good to me,” said Stanfield.
“I make the motion to accept the contract with the Maries County Sheriff’s Department,” Gieck said.
Stanfield seconded the motion, which passed with a 3-0 vote. Alderman Courtney Abel was absent.
Read the Feb. 5 edition of The Maries County Advocate for more information about the future of the former Belle Police Department’s equipment.
