The Wamac City Council on Monday evening approved a contract with Axon for the purchase of six body cameras and three in-car cameras for the Wamac Police Department. The total cost of the five-year contract is $118,419.50, including a down payment of more than $35,000; however, city officials noted that Wamac will be able to apply for a grant this fall which would allow the city to recoup approximately $30,000.
Officials say the cameras should arrive around October or November of this year. The purchase will enable Wamac to comply with a state mandate that all officers be outfitted with body cameras by January 1, 2025.
The council also held a lengthy discussion Monday on the topic of animal control, with officials reporting that Wamac police officers recently tried to bring a dog to the Centralia animal shelter but were told the shelter could not accept the dog. Additionally, Mayor Jackie “Butch” Mathus told the council that Marion County Animal Control will not cover Wamac because it is an incorporated area. Mathus says he intends to speak to the Marion County Board at an upcoming meeting about the situation.
It was also announced that Friday, June 21, will be the citywide spring cleanup day, during which large items will be collected by Sunrise Sanitation. The service is limited to Wamac trash customers.
