During its meeting Monday evening, the Centralia City Council approved a new school resource officer contract with the Centralia City Schools District 135. City Manager Kory Smith says the new four-year contract will involve the school district paying $9,465 per month, down from the $11,441 cost per month under the previous agreement with the city. The change follows an evaluation of the costs incurred.
John Hinkel previously served as SRO for the City Schools, but left the role after being promoted to sergeant with the Centralia Police Department in May. However, CPD Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says a new officer has been selected to take on the SRO position and has already gotten a first-hand look at what the role entails.
“We have moved Christopher Jansen into that spot. Jansen was able to kind of shadow Hinkel for about four weeks … and he kind of fell in love with it pretty quick.”
Whritenour notes that Jansen will be attending SRO school this fall, and with Hinkel remaining with the Centralia PD he will be able to continue to offer guidance to Jansen.
The new SRO contract had already been approved by the school district.
In other action, the council approved a resolution authorizing the city to re-apply for a loan from the USDA Intermediary Relending Program. Smith says Centralia had previously applied for $1 million, but due to federal budget cutbacks the city will now be applying for $500,000. The loan would be used to create a revolving loan program for the city to spur economic growth. The program would make available loans not to exceed $250,000, with a 5 percent interest rate payable up to a period of 15 years. Loans would not finance more than 50 percent of the total cost of any project. Applications under the program would first be reviewed by city staff, then by a newly created seven-member loan committee, with the city council having the ultimate authority to approve or deny applications.
The council also approved amending the Centralia Municipal Code to increase the number of Class A liquor licenses. Mayor Bryan Kuder reports that the Fairways restaurant at Greenview Golf Club is closing as of June 30, and the license will be surrendered at that time. However, the owners of Greenview have applied for a new license to keep the bar area of the establishment open.
Council members also approved a decrease in the number of Class E liquor licenses, to reflect the Peking restaurant surrendering its license in 2023.
Approval was given on an ordinance rezoning property at 325 Walnut Hill Road from a highway/arterial business district to an industrial district. The change was requested by Bolin Enterprises, which plans to open a business at the site that includes propane sales, an environmental cleanup office and a crude oil trucking service.
The council voted to reject a bid for a pavement marking project. Smith reports that the lower of the two bids on the project came in at just under $80,000, about $30,000 higher than the estimated cost. He says the city could consider changing the scope of the project moving forward.
Council members also approved a request from the Salem High School bass fishing team to use Raccoon Lake for a tournament on August 11, and approved the temporary closure of East Broadway between Oak Street and U.S. Route 51 and Locust Street from Broadway to East Second Street to accommodate the Centralia Summer Market event on July 20.
