New e-ticketing system updated

BAINBRIDGE -- With a number of issues tabled and no claims discussed during July's regular public meeting in Bainbridge, the town's council hadn't much to report.

However, among other police updates, Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick reported to the board that the newly-purchased e-ticketing system is becoming operational.

Now breaking down police-citizen interactions into two groups, the system has allowed Fenwick and his deputies to file more practically and with ease.

"You'll notice it says incident reports and case reports," Fenwick said as he handed an activity summary to the board. "Incident reports are any time we're called out to anything (while) case reports are specific cases that we've worked on or are working on. Everything gets an incident report with this new system."

Additionally, with more than 20 hours of combined instruction having accumulated between Fenwick and his deputies, training on the new system is going well.

"We've been doing a lot of schooling these past couple of months," Fenwick said. "So far our schooling has been free which really makes it nice for us -- it saves us a lot of money.

"We're also still in the process of getting the (second) car's system up and running," Fenwick added. "The boys have been doing it themselves while they're working so it takes a little while longer to get it done but it has saved us a bunch of money also."

Bainbridge Police Department Activity Summary, June 1 through June 30

* Total incidents dispatched: 46

* Traffic stops: 21

* Case reports: 8

* UTT violations: 6

Separately, Fenwick announced that this year's car show will take place Aug. 13-14. He said several vendors have already pledged participation that will result in a plethora of barbecued meats.

Various vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles will be featured.

In other business:

* The second reading of Ordinance 2016-3, which concerns the consistency and clarity between health insurance regulation stated in employee handbooks and its actual implementation, was tabled via a motion by Lents and its subsequent 2-0 approval (with Councilman Scott Curran abstaining).

Since 2007, family members of town employees have been receiving health insurance benefits despite clear regulation in the town's employee handbook that states only the employee can do so. Thorough discussion resulted in the possibility of simply changing the handbook to reflect the actions of the town for the past nine years.

"The town has paid over $100,000 in (health) insurance to employees' families since then," Lents said.

* The storm water utility, net metering and window-replacement sections of the agenda were also tabled via 3-0 approval after Lents motioned for each to do so.

* A fifth motion by Lents to table a subject was ultimately dropped by the board after more information was provided by members of the audience that the Planning Commission had recently given its 3-1 recommendation to allow the area of 201-206 Circle Drive to be reclassified as "residential" instead of "business." The board then approved another motion by Lents via 3-0 vote to allow the rezoning classification.

* Councilman Joel Thompson discussed witnessing several youth loitering around the park on South Washington Street, saying trash and noise pollution is disrupting quiet hours despite an 11 p.m. curfew. Fenwick said the police department will keep close watch on the park and check for any "No Loitering" signs that may or may not be posted in the area.

* Councilman Thompson also spoke about drainage issues near the Bainbridge Solar Park adjacent to the elementary school.

Evidently, water collects and flows toward Washington Street from the west side of the park. Though members of the audience collectively claimed that it is not due to the new solar installation and has been a problem for some time, Utility Superintendent Troy Elless said he and other crew members would look into the situation and how the park affects the area in times of heavy rainfall.

* No Park Board report was given as no member of the committee was present.

* Superintendent Elless gave a utility report, saying recent hire Chad Oliver is working out nicely.

Separately, an annual checkup for the town's utility truck showed that the vehicle needs new tires. The board approved the purchase of a new set with Lents saying to do whatever needs done.

* Vacancies on the planning commission were discussed: Robert Hensley will be replaced by Brent Fultz in the "official" position and Mike Smith will be replaced by Tim Burlingame in the "citizen" position.

* Resolution 2016-4, which voids outstanding checks, was approved via 3-0 vote.

* Applications for a utility position are now being accepted.

The next regular public session for Bainbridge will be on Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. inside town hall, located at 201 N. Grant Ave.