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Police parking at courthouse reduced to two spaces
Making his first appearance at a Putnam County Commissioners meeting since being sworn in, new Sheriff Scott Stockton made it clear Monday morning that he wants to keep the needs of the public at the forefront of his department's agenda.
Stockton proposed that police parking at the Putnam County Courthouse -- increased to five designated spaces just a year ago -- be reduced to two spaces.
The sheriff said the decision came from weighing the critical need of officers' access to their vehicles against public access.
"As far as courthouse parking, the way I see it is that the citizens of Putnam County have always shown a great deal of respect for our law enforcement, sometimes even when we were less than deserving," Stockton said. "I see the parking at the courthouse as a way for law enforcement to start the process of returning that respect to the citizens."
The commissioners unanimously passed the proposal, which will include a devoted space for a courthouse security officer and an additional space devoted to law enforcement officers in general.
And with ink from the commissioners' signature barely dry, Stockton had jail custodian Tom Gilson downtown, removing three of the five signs from their posts, opening the spaces to the public.
The five police spaces, in place not only for security officers but for others at the courthouse for court or other matters, had taken up most of the parking on the north side of the courthouse along Franklin Street. The sheriff pointed out the spaces often sit empty while residents and other officials who need access must walk farther.
"There are people here in key positions (in the courthouse) that walk three blocks," Stockton said. "If they can do it, we can too."
A new sheriff with change on his mind was not the only new development during the first county meeting of 2015. District 2 Commissioner Rick Woodall also made his first appearance in an official capacity, and finished the meeting as an officer on the Board of Commissioners.
Former president Don Walton opened the meeting by nominating David Berry as the new president of the board, a measure that passed unanimously.
Similarly, Woodall was unanimously elected vice president.
In other business:
* Dr. Warren Macy was appointed to the Putnam County Board of Health.
* The commissioners agreed in principal to a $75,000 annual agreement with Muskegon River Youth Home in Ladoga to house juveniles accused of crimes. The contract would reduce the cost of a bed per night from $119 to $99.
The contract must received final approval from the Putnam County Council.
* Attorney Jim Ensley reminded the commissioners that two vacancies need to be filled on the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board, one from Fillmore and one at large.
* The County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) will be on the agenda for discussion at the Tuesday, Jan. 20 meeting. The EDIT plan is likely to be approved at the Monday, Feb. 2 meeting.
The next meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.