West Point citizens need to lock up their dogs and car doors.
During Tuesday night’s board of selectmen meeting, police chief Tim Brinkley told the board there has been a spike in auto burglary in the past two weeks. Many of the thefts were avoidable, he said, with thieves benefiting from unlocked car doors.
Brinkley also addressed the board about the pit bull a West Point officer shot last week. He said the shooting officer had the authority to make that decision. Brinkley noted the dog was in proximity to three local schools and was behaving viciously.
“We want the community to know that we do not go on theses animal-at-large calls with the intent of taking down the animal,” Brinkley said.
Selectman Gary Dedeaux asked Brinkley if the police department could tranquilize such dogs. The chief said that was not a precedent his department can set, noting that tranquilizer amounts need to be precise to avoid killing the dogs.
Brinkley told the selectmen there have been no cases of large, organized dog fights within West Point.
Brinkley also reported there has been a “rash of thefts in 4-wheelers and trailers.” He said six 4-wheelers have been stolen in the past three weeks. WPPD is working with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and other state agencies on an investigation.
City business
In other city news, mayor Robbie Robinson reaffirmed the city’s commitment to its current drug policy for city employees. That policy dates to 1993 and calls for random drug testing for city employees within the police and fire departments, as well as any city workers who operate heavy machinery. His motion to continue with this policy and issue a fresh round of randomly assigned drug tests was approved.
The board approved a motion to lease land near he city Sportsplex for the farming of hay and row crops. The land will be advertised to lease for a year.
West Point is also buffing up on statues and memorials. The board authorized the West Point Community Foundation to place a 7-foot Statue of Liberty on Kitty Dill Walkway. The statue was donated to the city, and will be the same as the mini Statue of Liberty found in Columbus.
The board also approved a bronze plaque celebrating the life of Dr. Thomas L. Zuber to be placed in Zuber Park. The city will pay $607 toward the plaque, which will be matched by the Zuber family.
In the firehouse
West Point Fire and Rescue Chief Ken Wilbourne said the department made 22 fire runs in January. He said there has been an uptick in grass fires.
The department has made some promotions following Wilbourne’s appointment as chief last month. Reginald Gardner has been made battalion chief. Gardner has been with the department 22 years. Kenneth Wooten has been promoted to sergeant after 15 years with WPFD. Heath Donahoo is now a pump operator. Donahoo has been with the department eight years.
Wilbourne told the board of selectmen he is interested in adding three additional full-time firefighters.
New water and light head
The board approved Marion Marsac to take over as operations manager for the West Point water and light department. George Hinnant has been serving as an interim operations manager for the past six months. Hinnant will return to his retirement. Marsac has been with the department for 24 years. He was not present at Tuesday’s meeting. He will take over as operations manager in April.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
