The Salem City Council Monday night will be asked to approve a five year extension of the school resource officer with the Salem Grade and High School Districts.
Under the agreement already approved by the two school boards, the school districts pick up 75-percent of the cost and the city 25-percent. The officers are available in the summer months to return to regular patrol. Salem’s new Police Chief Todd Boles is highly in favor of the SRO program.
“Oh I think it’s absolutely essential for the schools. I know personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending my child to school without it. The two officers we have in there are outstanding. The kids love them, and we really don’t deal with the schools because of them being in there.”
Boles says Salem is ahead of Charleston, where he recently retired as a lieutenant. They had only one SRO for all the schools and regular patrol had to deal with many of the issues.
The council will also consider establishing a 501(C)(3) nonprofit in order to apply for more grants. City Manager Lisa Peck says many businesses and grantees only grant money to an organization with the nonprofit designation. All the accounting for the nonprofit organization will go through city hall and be audited with all other funds.
The Salem Emergency Management Agency has received a $47,863 bid to replace the tornado warning siren behind Taco Bell that fell to the ground during a heavy thunderstorm. The city has received a $19,006
reimbursement from the city’s insurance coverage and may be able to recoup some depreciation.
The meeting begins at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
