South Central Reporter

Macoupin County Ad Hoc Committee on Community Police Presence met Jan. 30.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT: Stayton, Kiel, Rosentreter, Reiher, Dixon, Garrison, Frericks, Duncan

ABSENT: Klausing, Kahl

II. NEW BUSINESS

1. Purpose of the Committee

Stayton suggested coming up with a mission statement for the committee. He proposed the following: We as a committee shall go on a fact-finding mission to determine if we do indeed have a police presence issue in Macoupin County. After we have reviewed the facts, we shall determine if we dave a problem. Then and only then will we as a committee start the process of finding a solution that helps everyone , including the people of Macoupin County. A safer Macoupin County is our goal.

He asked if any committee members disagreed with the statement.

Motion by Rosentreter, seconded by Reiher to adopt the mission statement.

meet once a month and try and keep meeting length to an hour to 90 minute meeting. Last Tuesday of the month. Dixon, seconded by Rosentreter

2. Meeting Frequency and Length

Stayton suggested meeting once a month and trying to keep meeting length to an hour to 90 minute meeting. There was a discussion as to what day to have it. The committee felt the last Tuesday of the month was acceptable.

Motion by Dixon, seconded by Rosentreter to have their meeting on the last Tuesday of the month.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Ryan Dixon, Member

SECONDER: Molly Rosentreter, Member

AYES: Stayton, Kiel, Rosentreter, Reiher, Dixon, Garrison, Frericks

ABSENT: Klausing, Kahl

3. PROCESS WE WILL FOLLOW

Stayton suggested that the process they would follow would be trying to identify the current problem through fact finding. Once the fact finding is complete, they would attempt to generate possible solutions to evaluate. After evaluating options, they would decide on a possible solution. At that point, the committee would be disbanded and the public safety committee would evaluate the outcome. It was possible that when the committee completed it's work, no solution would be offered since the status quo was the best option or the cities and villages have fully staffed police departments again. Stayton also said that he felt they couldn't address which communities to focus on until the fact finding was completed.

4. Items for next meeting

Stayton discussed some of the possible fact finding they needed to address before the next meeting. The Sheriff's office and State's Attorney's office would try to pull together figures over a five year period regarding the number of calls being handled in each community. The sheriff's department would have the contact information for the chiefs of each police department and clerk could bring the contact info for mayors and alderman when the time was ready.

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