Chevy Bolt plugged at council

Police Chief Brian Young spoke city council on Monday about ESPD’s policy to allow police officers to take their work vehicles home. The topic originally came up during budget talks several months ago and Terry McClung, acting as Mayor Pro Tem at Monday’s meeting, explained that many police departments allow their officers to use vehicles to go home when off-duty. The policy acts as an incentive for officers as well as allowing them to respond immediately from their homes if they must be called in.

Alderman Harry Meyer questioned the practice, saying that several officers live outside of the Eureka Springs city limits. He voiced concern about maintenance due to that extra travel and posited the use of a system where officers would use a card system to track mileage and gas usage.

Meyer suggested the department move to electric vehicles, which Young hesitated to support. Young tried to explain that the only vehicle that could serve the role the department would seek is a Tesla, an expensive vehicle even without additions that would need to be made. Young also questioned where one would charge them, considering the police department does not have that infrastructure in place. Meyer said they could be charged at the station, and declared a Chevy Bolt would serve in the role, which Young capitulated that it would.

However, Young noted that the cost of batteries for electric vehicles would be too much, floating a cost of $25,000, which Meyer took issue with. Meyer declared he knew Chevy Bolts (which he and Young both drive) that have been used for Uber and the batteries have a 150,000-mile warranty. Young countered, saying ESPD pushes vehicles well past 150,000 miles.

Alderman David Avanzino voiced support for the take-home policy as did alderman Melissa Greene, with Avanzino saying that the ten minutes an officer saves by responding straight from their home could save a life. Aldermen discussed how the city may need to cut budgetary corners in the future, and the topic was dropped after Meyer questioned whether an officer’s time driving home should be considered personal use and thus on the officer’s taxes. Young didn’t immediately respond but didn’t hide his disagreement.

Aldermen also discussed the update of the city’s website with Avanzino saying the current site is hard to navigate and has links that lead to unrelated websites. City Clerk Ida Meyer said she and the finance director were looking into options for the city, including the same company that runs the Municode website. They will receive a consultation of costs and report to council.

Other Items

• David Avanzino read the Mayor’s proclamation recognizing International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31 and a rally will be held in Basin Park on Friday.
• John Rankine, co-owner of 1 Washington St., lamented comments made by Meyer during the last council meeting as well as errant comments made by Tom Buford of the Planning Commission about their property. Several seconds before the timer went off for Rankine’s time McClung attempted to interrupt Rankine saying that his time was coming to a close. Rankine finished his statement and McClung told the audience that the enforced time for Public Comments would be followed.
• Bill King, co-owner of 1 Washington, read a statement on classist elitism in Eureka Springs which may be read as a letter to the editor in this edition.
• The topic of 1 Washington St., was deferred with McClung saying the issue may be entirely resolved and not need to return to the table.