In an effort to increase the manpower at the Columbus Police Department, the City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to allow Chief Selvain McQueen to hire six officers.

Chief Financial Officer Mike Bernsen said the starting salary for an entry level officer is “about $30,000.” With benefits, six new officers could cost the city about a quarter of a million dollars.

“These hires are actually replacements for vacancies on the force,” Bernsen said. “These are not additional employees.”

The new hires will help fill a department McQueen has called “understaffed.” The CPD current has about 70 officers. Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem said he fully supports hiring more officers.

“From the first day I started to see crime rates climb in my ward, I’ve been trying to get more police on the streets,” Karriem said. “We need to give the police everything they need to combat crime. Under a previous chief, we had about 85 officers at one time. We need to hire more officers and give (McQueen) the resources he needs to do his job in dealing with the crime in Columbus.”

The council also approved McQueen’s new organizational chart for the CPD.

The new chart will allow McQueen to restructure his department by changing the chain-of-command and creating a position for a second assistant chief and commander of criminal investigation.

One-way street

The council also listened to residents from the First Street South neighborhood debate the possibility of designating the street one-way from the end of College Street to Eight Avenue South.

“I received a petition today requesting we make First Street South one way, starting around the entrance to the Riverwalk and heading South,” City Engineer Kevin Stafford said. “I don’t think a one-way would be a bad idea. There were 10 signatures on the petition. I would like to talk to more residents in the neighborhood to make sure they are on board.”

Mayor Robert Smith then allowed opponents to the proposed change to address the council on their reservations.

“I signed it originally, but the parking is so bad that this would create congestion,” resident Bill Roberts said. “We have had a 15 miles- per-hour speed limit sign put in but it’s not being enforced. I think this really needs to be studied before we do something.”

First Street South is located in Karriem’s ward. Karriem said he wanted more information on the change, before a vote was held.

Resident Dan Sisson opposed the change, because he is a frequent traveler up and down First Street South.

“I go up and down the street several times a day,” Sisson said. “I’ve been doing it for 19 years. I think this will just create a bunch of traffic on First (Street South) and Second Street (South).”

Smith said he had received a letter from resident Thomas Moore requesting the traffic-flow change. Moore was in attendance and was given an opportunity to plead his case to Stafford and the council.

“I don’t understand what was said about the traffic increasing,” Moore said. “College Street will stay a two-way street. I have seen an increase in traffic and pedestrian traffic. In some areas, when there is a traffic increase, streets are turned into one-ways.”

Stafford said he would have to investigate other areas and meet with first responders, before he could make an informed suggestion. The council tabled the issue until May 15.

In other business the council also approved:

n A request to relocate Lee Middle School and Mitchell School voting precincts and the use of TSX voting equipment. The council also agreed to allow City Attorney Jeff Turnage to proceed in getting authorization from the U.S. Department of Justice for relocating the precincts.

n A request to accept the lowest bid for the replacement of the roof on city buildings located at 1601, 1602 and 1605 Main Street; city officials have yet to review the bids to identify the lowest bidder.

n A request to pave Temple Cove.

n A request for a supply agreement with APAC to purchase recyclable shingles.

Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.