DEXTER — The Dexter Board of Aldermen approved an “inflated” $12.2 million operating budget at its Monday night meeting and hired three police department employees.
The budget is inflated by about $2 million because City Administrator Mark Stidham budgeted $1.3 million in possible federal grant money for airport improvements and about $700,000 in possible grant funding for the city’s walking trail.
The city received the grant funding for the airport, Stidham said.
The funding will pay for “overlaying of asphalt, paving the runaway and taxiway,” Stidham explained. “They’ll do the crack-seal repair. That is completely revamping the runway.”
The project, Stidham said, is a 95-5 grant, with the city paying for 5% (approximately $68,000) of the project.
Stidham said it will likely be toward the end of the year before the paperwork for the airport grant is completed. Once the paperwork is finalized, a timetable for the work can be put in place.
The board also approved the hiring of three new employees for the Dexter Police Department.
Jasa Lynne Mayo was hired as a dispatcher, while Corey Martinez was hired for the animal control and nuisance abatement position.
Brian Scott Tyler was hired to fill the officer position vacated by David Simpkins.
Simpkins has transferred to the Dexter School campuses to be the second school resource officer (SRO). He will join Officer Don Donner.
A second SRO will provide additional security and safety for the students and staff in the school district.
The school district will reimburse the city $80,000 for both SROs. The contract for the second officer begins July 1.
Dexter Police Chief Trevor Pulley told the board the department has received a $2,000 grant to provide additional training for all of the officers. They will take three classes on emergency vehicle operations and post certification training.
The board also approved for a new stop sign to be placed at the intersection of Ellare Lane and Brenda Lane off of Two Mile Road near Walmart.
City Attorney Yewell Lawrence Jr. presented the ordinance for the stop sign to the board. It will be placed on the westbound lane of Ellare Lane.
Any person, firm or corporation violating the new ordinance and failing to stop at the intersection will face a fine up to $225.
The board approved Mayor Jason Banken’s reappointment of Renee Trout and Ashley Mayor to the library board.
A package liquor application for Dollar General Store also was approved by the board. This will apply to the store located at the intersection of Highway 25 and Stoddard Street.
In the street department report, the board was told employees will pick up the debris from the recent storm.
It will not be done as timely as it was earlier in the spring as some of the equipment is being used for other projects and can not be used to pick up the debris.