Silverhill waives town limit requirements for current police chief

By John Underwood independent@gulfcoastnewspapers.com
Posted 5/8/12

SILVERHILL, Alabama --- The Silverhill Town Council voted unanimously at Monday night’s council meeting to waive the requirement for Police Chief Kim Wasdin to live within the town’s limits.

Questions were initially raised during a council …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Local reporters keeping you informed across the Alabama Gulf Coast.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Silverhill waives town limit requirements for current police chief

Posted

SILVERHILL, Alabama --- The Silverhill Town Council voted unanimously at Monday night’s council meeting to waive the requirement for Police Chief Kim Wasdin to live within the town’s limits.

Questions were initially raised during a council meeting held in November of last year stemming from a town ordinance which requires that the police chief live within the town’s limits, and a section of the town’s personnel policy which allows police officers and members of the utilities department to take work vehicles home if they live within 10 miles of town hall.

Two years ago, when the required time ran out, the council voted for a six-month extension on the requirement and has re-evaluated and voted on an extension every six months since that time.

Town Council members voted unanimously in November first to extend the requirement that Wasdin live within the town’s police jurisdiction another six months at which time another evaluation would be conducted, then voted to approve a variance allowing Wasdin to take her vehicle up to 20 miles from town hall.

At the six-month review, which was held during Monday’s meeting, Wasdin was required to present evidence that she had listed to sell property she and her husband own in Elberta and actively seek to buy or lease property within the town’s limits.

Wasdin said Monday that despite the fact that the council has waived her requirement to live within the town limits she will keep her property in Elberta up for sale and continue to seek to find property in Silverhill.

Council members said Monday that the requirement would remain in effect for future chiefs, but Mayor Tim Wilson said he would like to revisit the requirement at sometime in the future.

In other business Monday, the council voted to renew its property and liability insurance with Blackmon Insurance at a cost of $33,424.

The Council also voted to allow the town’s volunteer fire department to seek its own insurance with VFIS. Once the fire department acquires its own insurance, it will be dropped from the town’s insurance.

The council also voted Monday to:

  • Adopt Resolution 465 to begin the pre-application process woith the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for a non-motorized diverse use trail to be located at Oscar Johnson Park. The total projected cost of the project is $125,000, of which, if approved, the grant will pay 80 percent or $100,000. The council voted first to suspend the rules by unanimous vote, then voted to approve the measure by unanimous roll-call vote.
  • Tabled consideration for a part-time temporary office cler.
  • Approved a request to rent two portable bathroom units and one handwashing unit at a cost of $295 for the Silverhill Car Show which will be held Saturday, May 26.
  • Adopted reservation/rental costs for O.J. Park and the Kid’s Park at a cost of $10 per event for garbage customers and $25 for all others.
  • Adopted Resolution 464 setting a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, for adoption of the 2012 International Building Codes . The council voted first to suspend the rules by unanimous roll-call vote, then voted to adopt the measure by unanimous roll-call vote.
  • Rescheduled the town’s Council meeting from Monday, May 21 to Tuesday, May 22 because of Robertsdale High School graduation.
  • Approved the purchase of supplies for the town’s Utilities Department.
  • Authorized Utilities Superintendent Steve Williams to bid up to $8,500 to purchase a car for the town’s police department through govdeals.com.