Updates on improvements in Cloverdale

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale Town Council heard updates on several ongoing projects within the town during its regular meeting Thursday night.

A representative from R & B Architects, the company responsible for plan for the Downtown Revitalization Project, reported that plans are in the final stages.

He showed the council and audience drawings of facade plans, saying that 10-15 facades are included in the plans. With plans being nearly finished, the town will soon be able to apply for a construction grant to make the improvements.

The grant could be in the amount of $500,000. The next opportunity to apply for a grant is in February.

He also suggested starting an account with the Putnam County Community Foundation to receive contributions for the project.

Town Manager Wayne Galloway reported that no bids have come in for fixing the fire station roof, as all potential bidders preferred to do inspections before bidding. Bids are expected after the inspections are complete.

However, the council approved Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway's pursuit of a $500,000 grant to build a new fire station in the future.

Town Manager Galloway also reported that no bids for building the 10 x 10 bulk water station have come in, the building being so small that no one wanted "to fool with it." The town still plans to install in the future.

In other developments:

-- CPD policies: The council approved the Cloverdale Police Department's Rule 1 policy, which deals with probationary periods for employees, and the Rule 2 policy, which is the deputy selection process.

"I know right now some of this stuff may seem a little bit over-the-top for a three-person police department. But we are trying to build this police department for the department of the future. The town of Cloverdale is trying to improve itself for growth, and I think the police department will probably grow along with that."

In answer to a question from Dan Moon, Safety Board Adviser Phil Parker said that there is a separate process for selecting reserve officers thing includes an extensive background check.

-- Crime report: Town Marshal Steve Hibler reported that the CPD performed 16 criminal arrests in May, with 6 being misdemeanors, 5 felonies and 3 drug. CPD also seized less than 4 grams of methamphetamine and less than 15 grams of marijuana. Battery and habitual traffic violator/operating while intoxicated/driving while intoxicated made up most case reports at four cases each, followed by theft at 2 cases.

In the last 120 days, CPD has performed 72 arrests (37 misdemeanor, 23 felony and 12 drug); seized 7.5 grams of methamphetamine and less than 100 grams of marijuana; and filed 107 case reports, the majority being theft at 19 cases, stalking/harassment/intimidation at 13 cases and habitual traffic violator/OWI/DWI at 10 cases.

The Cloverdale Town Council's next regular meeting is set for July 11 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.