Red Boiling Springs has officially hired a new full-time police officer, Justin Rice.
“We’ve had to hire another full-time officer because [we were having to use] part-time on that shift,†Mayor Kenneth Hollis told the city council. “The other shifts are covered well. It has been a struggle getting this shift covered due to having one officer out sick. This will cost us some money to hire this other full-time officer. It’s either hire him and have the coverage or not have the coverage.â€
Hollis said Police Chief Jeffery Maynard is looking at grants “to help subsidize the cost of hiring a new officer.â€
“There’s a $15,000 grant through the state that I’m in the process of applying for,†said Maynard. “Basically, what it does is covers the cost of outfitting the officer. Things included in those costs are items like the vest, uniforms, duty belt, just everything needed to outfit him. There are also grants through the federal government which pays for the police academy as well. That just leaves the cost of the officer’s salary which the city of Red Boiling Springs would be responsible for.â€
“The part time officers are at $24 an hour, and you told him he’d start at $24 an hour as well, right?†asked Hollis.
“Yes, I think that’s fair with his added benefits as well,†said Maynard.
“He lives a pretty good ways away,†said Hollis. “So, we can’t let him drive the car home. He lives down at 231 close to the bridge going towards Lebanon. If we can work it out with the Trousdale County Sheriff’s department, he might be able to drive it there and leave it. It’s just too far and would cost a lot extra in fuel.â€
The council agreed unanimously to hire Rice at the rate of $24 an hour.
“I’m eager to get started and serve the people of Red Boiling Springs,†said Rice.
Sanitation was next on the agenda.
“TDS is costing us quite a bit at the moment,†said Hollis. “Currently, it costs the city $86.25 a ton. The bill this month was $6,000-plus and last month was $7,900. We’re trying to arrange it to send our trash to Smith County. Hopefully, we can get something done soon. They will take us at Cookeville for $33 per ton. We may have to set it up where we’re going to have to travel some. We can’t afford to keep going like we have been. We may possibly have to shorten the route down again. It is either change who we use or shorten the route down. I hate to just do inside the city limits.â€
Hollis said he plans to do his very best to remedy the current price problem without affecting existing customers.
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