The Bellefontaine City Council was introduced to the new K9 officer at their meeting Tuesday night. Officer Jerrod Hostetler and K9 Pyro made an appearance, and Police Chief Chris Marlow informed the council about Officer Pyro’s and the newly formed Narcotics Unit’s success. Pyro and the narcotics unit have been involved in taking weapons off the streets, have 26 arrests including 18 Felonies, and have been deployed 19 times.
Chief Marlow informed the council that the department has been able to put a detective in Narcotics Investigations, a position that had been disbanded due to manpower issues. Marlow said that a grant that his department had applied for was rewritten and has been used to augment salaries and overtime for members of the patrol unit.
Chief Marlow talks about the success the narcotics unit is having:
Marlow also said that the two new officers hired are completing the hiring process and are progressing as expected. The open lieutenant position has been posted, and the four sergeants are all eligible to try for the position. He also expects the new Ford Explorer for the K9 Unit to be delivered in the near future.
In the legislative portion of the meeting, two ordinances affecting the fire department were given their first readings. One would allow the Service-Safety Director to enter into a contract with Motorola to replace the fire station alerting system currently in place. Interim Fire Chief Brian Wilson said that the system is beginning to break down, delaying dispatch time.
Chief Wilson talks about what the new alert system will do:
Several other ordinances were also given first readings:
- 24-81 – An ordinance making supplemental appropriations for ARPA retention bonuses;
- 24-82 – An ordinance making supplemental appropriations for the parks department;
- 24-83 – An ordinance that would authorize the Service-Safety Director or Fire Chief to apply for and accept a grant to purchase a new tanker truck;
- 24-84 – An ordinance that would authorize the Service-Safety Director to contract with CHA Consulting for professional services related to the Bellefontaine Regional Airport;
- 24-85 – An ordinance that would amend Chapter 1127 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine.
Two ordinances were given their second reading:
- 24-78 – An ordinance that established and provided for compensation for the President of Council, council members, Clerk of Council, Mayor, Law Director, Auditor, and Treasurer for 2026;
- 24-79 – An ordinance that approved the Ludlow Ridge Phase 1 Subdivision dedication plot. The council waived the three-reading rule and adopted the ordinance.
One ordinance was adopted:
- An ordinance that provides for the issuance and sale of municipal recreation bonds not to exceed $10,000,000 for acquiring, constructing, equipping, and improving certain municipal recreation facilities.
The next meeting of the Bellefontaine Council will be on November 12, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
