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Troutman police to get traffic enforcement help
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Published: August 15, 2009
The Troutman Police Department will get a whole new division as a result of a grant that the town's Board of Aldermen approved at its regular meeting Thursday night.
The board voted to accept a Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP) Grant that will provide the town with most of the costs associated with hiring, training and outfitting a new police officer whose duties will be exclusively associated with traffic matters.
Police Chief Matthew Selves said the grant goes toward the payment of everything involving bringing the new officer on board, including pay and benefits, uniforms, equipment and a vehicle.
"It's designed so the town doesn't get hit with the whole thing," Selves said.
The grant, which was also extended to Iredell County's three other law enforcement agencies — the sheriff's office and Statesville and Mooresville police departments — is based countywide information.
"They look at Iredell's crash data and compare it to the data from other counties," Selves said. "And based on that, they decided we could use the extra officers."
The chief said that while the additional officer will be used only in matters related to the town's roads, it will free up other officers to concentrate more on community police work.
The $110,000 grant runs for four years but requires matches that increase the town's burden every year. In the first year, the grant pays on an 85 to 15 percent ratio. That changes to a 70/30 split the second year; 50/50 the third year and 100 percent funding by the town in the fourth year.
"That's why you want to get all your expensive items paid for in the first year," Selves said.
Also at Thursday's meeting, the Board of Aldermen:
- Approved a resolution that would ban trailers and boats from parking on the streets of the Barium Seasons neighborhood.
Several citizens came forth to complain about a large boat that was impeding the traffic flow in the area. Some said the matter created a safety hazard but that the development's home owners association could not act on the matter because it involved a street maintained by the town.
- Held a public hearing regarding a change to the town's elections. While no one spoke on the matter, the public hearing is a required step in amending the elections process.
Town officials want to move from a schedule that has voters choosing three officials in each election. Currently, the mayor and three council members are elected in one election and two aldermen are elected in the next.
The next step in the process is a vote to change the town's charter, which should take place at the September regular meeting.
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