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LAKEPORT – The Lakeport City Council decided Tuesday night to allow Lakeport Police to fill its part-time school resource officer position.
Police Chief Kevin Burke, who also is acting city manager, took the hiring request to the council because the council instituted a hiring freeze last month.
Burke told the council that they needed to vote to exempt the position from the hiring freeze in order for him to hire an "eminently qualified" candidate who has come forward.
The police department has $7,000 budgeted to cover the hiring cost, uniforms and Social Security contributions, with Lakeport Unified School District providing more than $21,000 to cover the bulk of salary, said Burke.
Councilman Jim Irwin asked how many hours the school resource officer would work; Burke estimated about 25 hours a week, with a 960-hour cap in place because the candidate is a retired public employee.
In addition to being at the Lakeport Unified campus during the week, the officer also will work evenings in order to cover football games and dance, said Burke.
Irwin asked if it was possible for the current police staff to cover the school resource officer function.
"The current staffing level would not allow for it," said Burke.
Two of the department's 14 sworn officer positions are vacant, plus Burke – who also normally helps cover patrol – is busy filling the city manager position.
The council voted 4-0 to approve the request, with Councilman Bob Rumfelt absent from the meeting.
In other news, the council decided to put off for a few months a request from the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, which was seeking reimbursement for the Lakeport July 4 fireworks display.
Chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton made the request for the $13,132.27, which the city didn't budget for the new fiscal year. The fireworks show cost more than $18,000, with just over $5,000 covered by the chamber's fundraiser campaign.
Fulton said the chamber has covered the expenses for the past 20 years with marketing funds paid by the city. She said if she had known there was a chance the money wouldn't have been available, she would have approached the city to discuss alternatives.
Irwin asked if there were any other events for which the chamber might seek reimbursement. Fulton said it's possible the chamber may approach the city regarding the Dickens Christmas Market.
The council was hesitant about the fireworks reimbursement request. "We don't know exactly where we're at with this budget," said Mayor Buzz Bruns.
Councilman Roy Parmentier asked Fulton if they could hold the request over for a few months.
"We're very willing to work with you," Fulton replied, adding she wants to sit down with city representatives and discuss the funding situation and what to do next year. "Lakeport Fourth of July without fireworks can't happen."
Burke also asked the council if they were open to exploring an update of the city's parking fines.
The city's parking fines generally run around $17, except for the $275 fine for parking in a handicapped zone or the $27 fine for blocking a crosswalk, according to a list of fines provided by Burke.
The current base fine schedule was adopted in 1993, with a minor adjustment in 1998, said Burke.
The council indicated its willingness to have Burke bring back a resolution at a future meeting that will update the fees.
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$28 K per-year for a 25-hour a week geriatric cop? Another stellar idea, who is the stiff, er, I mean prospect, one of Bob's pals? Another gravy job for somebody's friend, you can bet on that!