Centralia Police Chief Christopher Locke has announced the city’s one recently retired canine unit will be replaced by two canine officers. The announcement came at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Locke says new canine officers Travis Ripperda and Austin Leslie went to Missouri to pick out their dogs and are now bonding with the Belgian Malinois before starting training in the St. Louis area next week with Brian Dowdy.
“He actually works with some non-profits and they pay him and he arranges the dogs for different police departments through the non-profits. And he provides the training so that pays for a dog and training. We also had a resident make a donation and we had some money in the budget so we were able to get a 2nd dog. We will be seeking donations in the future for equipment and dog food, things of that nature.”
Locke says Belleville Animal Hospital has agreed to provide the medical care for the dogs. He reports Belgian Malinois are being used more and more for police canines because they are smaller than German Shepards and don’t develop hip problems like the Shepards.
In other action, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing District #5 development agreement with Blue Fish 44, LLC for the new Scooter’s Coffee at 280 Brooks Avenue. Under the agreement, Blue Fish will be reimbursed for eligible expenses from property taxes paid. The agreement also allows for a sales tax reimbursement of 0.6 percent of the retail price of goods sold by Scooters until January 1st, 2027.
The council approved a resolution approving a water sales agreement between the city and Raccoon Water Company that would continue through December 31st, 2028. The rate will be $4.00 per thousand and will increase with the consumer price index on July first of each year. There is also a 50-cent surcharge to help pay for the new water treatment plant. The contract is one of ten the City of Centralia has with satellite water customers.
City Manager Kory Smith says many of the contracts are close to expiring so additional agreements will be coming before the council.
Smith thanked the public works department for their expertise in handling a large number of broken water mains and service lines during the below-zero temperatures in December.
