The Knox Board of Works approved a hire recommendation from Chief of Police Chad Dulin during the board’s November meeting.
“So, we’re looking to hire and fill in for our eighth position. I recommended Derek Russell. He is a certified officer. He has three years of experience. He is a general instructor as far as training to help our department grow in that. I think he would be a really good asset to the Knox City Police Department,” said Chief Dulin.
The board voted unanimously to approve hiring Russell.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg informed the board that the city has been awarded the Community Crossings Matching Grant in the amount of $419,000.
Borg then told the board that leaf pickup is coming to an end. “Leaves are coming to an end, not because of lack of leaves. Just lack of participation. We’re not getting the people. It happens like this. I guarantee in December if it warms up forty, fifty degrees, they’re going to be out raking them, and we’ll go out to get them. But for right now, we’re pretty well coming to an end with that.”
The Street Department has started switching over to winter operations, Borg said.
Wastewater Department Superintendent Jason Clemons informed the board that both pumps and control panel at one of the lift stations. He stated that the pumps were on “borrowed time” and that they’ve been running for about 23 or 24 years.
“Both the overloads, internally at the pumps, are burnt out. We have them hardwired direct right now to get by. Plus, there’s also been some shady stuff over the years in that control panel to get things working that is not correct,” he said.
Clemons said that the department is looking at a cost of about $24,723 to replace the two pumps and the control panel. He’s hoping to get that this year or the first part of next year. The funds for the cost are in this year’s budget.
The board approved this request.
