The Centerville City Council held its first meeting of the month on Monday night.
After the agenda for the meeting was approved, the floor was opened for a public forum and Ryan Moore, Vice President of the Appanoose County EMS Council, stepped forward.
Moore wanted to encourage the public to vote in favor of the EMS tax levy that will be on the General Election ballot for Appanoose County residents. A “yes” vote will continue the one percent income surtax that is set to expire this year. It’s been in place since 1994 and it’s the only source of funding for EMS.
The consent agenda and bills were approved.
Chief Tom Demry of the Centerville Police Department provided a report. Demry says since the department entered an agreement with the Centerville Community School District, officers have provided 16 hours to the district as school resource officers.
When asked to elaborate, Demry says the department dedicates “a few hours” each day to the school district. He says the department can’t devote an officer full-time. The officers’ visits to the school district involve meeting with the office staff, checking doors, and interacting with students. Demry says in the near future, K-9 units will be brought to the schools as well.
Chief Vern Milburn of the Centerville Fire Department told the council that the department had a training session planned, but a recent structure fire on Drake Avenue turned into an extended, overnight affair. Milburn says firefighters used the structure fire as training and also carried out more training at a different structure later.
