Hickman officials hear resident’s concerns over HPD, Dispatch delays

Hickman resident Kim Hagler addressed the Hickman City Commission at their regular bi-monthly meeting Feb. 8 with Commissioners Alicia Esters, John Wiley Gannon, Robert Griggs, Rob Hitesman, and Mayor Heath Carlton attending.

Hagler stated, “I call the Police Department Jan. 30, at 7:30 a.m., and no one answered. I called a second time and still no answer. I then decided to call 911. The first time I was discontinued. The dispatcher called me back and I explained what was happening. The dispatcher said she would call someone. I waited 15 minutes and called back and was told she could not get anyone to respond.”

“My mother was locked in her apartment because her door was stuck and she had locked the storm door the night before and I couldn’t get in to help her. I wanted the Police to come and help me get in,” Hagler said.

Hagler was concerned that if an emergency were to happen would there be police on duty to assist.

“Do we have a policeman on patrol at night?” Hagler asked.

Hickman Chief of Police Tony Grogan tried to answer, but before he could Hagler stated she had her answer.

Mayor Carlton said, “We will gather information from the recorded call and come up with a resolution. We need to verify the events and we will get back with you.”

Commissioner Esters said, “May I suggest a written apology to Ms. Hagler.”

Grogan said he would write a letter.

Hagler said she would wait for the City’s resolution and then she would give hers.

In other business, Michael Apperson, Alliance Water Resource, reported treating 16.4 million gallons of water with an average of 529,155 gallons per day in January; repaired one leak on Hwy 94 and jetted three sewers.

“The fluoride pumps have been ordered and are ready to install when they arrive. Alliance Water Resource would also like to help the City reset the cemetery stones that were knocked over during the tornado store a few years back,” Apperson said.

City Manager David Gallagher reported, “The manual control at the Water Plant are a work in progress, in the event the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) goes down again.”

In new business, the Commissioners voted to renew the City of Hickman line of credit with The Citizens Bank (General Fund) for $143,719.84; close out the General Fund Escrow Account effective immediately; and pay invoices to Vaughn Electric for $5,321.25 to get the water plant running following the shutdown a couple of weeks ago; Vaughn Electric for $6,182 to replace the actuator/backwash valve; Coffey Construction $2,639.10 for paving; and Coffey Construction $50,137.20 for paving to be reimbursed from discretionary funds.

During the City Manager’s Report, Gallagher said, “The Road Funds may increase and we may have more funds next year. Some good news, the ditch, on Hwy 94 at the pump station into town towards Broadway is being cleaned. There are two culverts that need to be cleared to allow water to flow. The work crew will be down to one person effective Feb. 19, and we need to get as much done as we can until then.”

“Some property owners have been clearing their ditches also,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher went out and looked for two valves at the lagoon, which was heavily overgrown. He had a difficult time, but with Danny Pruitt’s assistance they finally found them near a concrete pillar marked for the valves.

“Finding the valves saved the City $25,000. Also, the phone at the water plant we didn’t realize we were being charged for has been disconnected and we have been credited $1,080, which we received today,” Gallagher said.

“The Waste Water Project is scheduled to start this week. Tokai is up and running following the repair to the gas line and is scheduled to start their new project in April. Meatworks is still an ongoing project. They are checking around for acreage for the cows. Lastly, the Whiskey factory is cranked up and ready to start,” Gallagher said.

Commissioners went into Executive Session, pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(f), Personnel, at 5:55 p.m.

The Commissioners returned to Open Session at 6:23 p.m., with no decisions and no votes being taken.

The Council voted to hire Carrie Schmidt as City Treasurer, leaving an opening for a City Payroll and Deputy City Clerk.