Members of the Rainelle Town Council want citizens to know they are encouraged to attend meetings and speak about their concerns for the community.
“I think we need to get to the public better with our meetings,” said council member Danny Milam during the regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 25.
He explained that many citizens feel like they cannot talk to the council, whether that be from past administrations, or due to current COVID regulations. However, that is not the case.
While only 10 people can be present in the council chamber at Rainelle Town Hall, including members of the council, at least three citizens can be in attendance during a typical meeting, Milam said.
In the event more than 10 people are present in the room, citizens can sign-up to speak and wait in their car until a spot is available.
“Even if someone feels like because of COVID they don’t want to be in a crowd or with us, they could call and talk to one of the people at our desks and tell us what their concerns are and we could still discuss it,” Milam stated. “There is no reason to keep the public away from our meetings.”
He continued to say that many citizens are still concerned about the lack of a Rainelle police department, but he feels like the town is finally getting a good grasp on the situation.
“Things are happening and we are going to make them happen for sure,” Milam said.
Acting Mayor Bill Bell added that citizens can also come to meetings to discuss anything positive they see in the town.
“It doesn’t always have to be something bad,” Bell said.
Additionally, Bell noted that since the town posted the position of the police chief, five people have filled out applications.
“We need to hire a police officer who is already certified,” Bell said. Applications are still being accepted at town hall.
In other business, Mike Honaker, director of Greenbrier County 911, spoke at the meeting regarding the upcoming installation of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in county emergency vehicles. He explained to the council that Greenbrier County has been about 30 years behind on technology, but that is about the change.
For the past year, members of the Greenbrier County Commission, members of Greenbrier County Emergency Services and local municipalities have been discussing a contract with Motorola that would allow for the installation of MDTs and training on how to use the software, Honaker said.
Most municipal police departments in Greenbrier County have signed on to receive these services, but due to uncertainty in the Rainelle Police Department, the town has yet to join the county-wide project. The initial cost for the town to receive software and services for MDT installation in police cars would be $7,000. This does not include the cost for the actual MDTs, typically laptops, which would need to be purchased by the town.
According to Honaker, a MDT would help town police officers run license and warrant checks without the need to call into the 911 center. Additionally, they would be able to place calls to the 911 center that would not be accidentally broadcast over a scanner.
The MDT would also allow officers to fill out various reports and the software provides tracking and response time for officers, which increases department accountability, Honaker said.
“All of the data that you could possibly want would be there,” Honker said. “It has the technology that we need for the citizens, the operational effectiveness and efficiency that we need for the police officers and the administrative accountability that a lot of organizations are looking for.”
The Greenbrier County Commission has already allocated funds for the MDT contract with Motorola, and each municipality will then pay the commission an agreed-upon amount for continued services, Honaker added. The town of Rainelle would pay approximately $1,067 in yearly maintenance fees.
Bell, along with the council, noted the town is planning to restructure the Rainelle Police Department and he believes that because the town has recently saved money due to the lack of a police department that it would be easy for the town to commit $7,000.
Council voted to further discuss this issue and make a decision on whether or not to participate at their next meeting on Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
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