(Aug. 24, 2017) The Pocomoke City Council discussed the following items during a public meeting at City Hall, last Monday.
New ambulance
Pocomoke EMS Director Mike Thornton received council approval to pursue the acquisition of a new ambulance.
Thornton said the cost would be about $190,000, with all but $10,000 financed for either five- or seven-year terms.
“[They] gave us several rates [with] five years at 3.37 percent for $3,293 per month [and] seven years at 3.62 percent for $2,453 per month,” he said. “We can pay semi annually or annually also.”
Councilman Dale Trotter inquired about the service time typical for ambulances.
Thornton said 10 years was typical and asked what financing option the mayor and council would prefer.
Mayor Bruce Morrison said the city would present the options to Finance Director Janet Wilson to ascertain the most advantageous option.
Councilman George Tasker made a motion, which was subsequently approved, to allow Thornton to proceed.
“My motion is to go for it,” he said. “Whichever Janet thinks is best, five or seven years.”
Cypress Park
Housing and Zoning Coordinator Dan Brandewie received council approval to apply for grant funding through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to perform upgrades and repairs at Cypress Park.
During fiscal year 2018, the DNR Community Parks and Playgrounds Program provided $2.5 million for 23 projects statewide, according to its website.
“Three major components that staff will be recommending that we consider applying for … is remodeling the restroom showers and the two restrooms,” he said. “The second component would be to look at bank stabilization and erosion on the stream banks that is jeopardizing, I think, the tennis courts and walkway right now.”
The other change Brandewie recommended was converting two of three tennis courts for pickleball play.
“Related to that would be to improve the lighting and the circuit breaker box,” he said.
Although firm project costs have yet to be calculated, Brandewie said if approved the state funding should cover all expenses.
New K-9
Pocomoke Police Chief William Harden received council approval to replace the department’s recently deceased K-9, Jet.
“Jet was a trained single-purpose animal, being a drug dog,” he said. “We’re proposing to have a dual-purpose animal.”
Harden explained a dual-purpose K-9 is trained for both narcotics detection and patrol services.
To trim costs, Harden said the department was able to source an expert police K-9 trainer, J.C. Richardson, CEO of Pittsville-based Delmarva K-9, who has 20 years of experience preparing canines for service tasks.
“We looked at a number of things and I think we kind of lucked out because we have Mr. Richardson in our area,” he said. “So that negates the fact of us having to send an officer away for training [and] pay for housing for that officer.”
Harden said the department already has the bulk of required equipment from its last K-9.
“We did have insurance on K-9 Jet and we also had a $1,000 donation made to us some months ago from the [Pocomoke] Elks Club,” he said.
Harden is anticipating the new canine will be ready for service in roughly three months.
New ambulance
Pocomoke EMS Director Mike Thornton received council approval to pursue the acquisition of a new ambulance.
Thornton said the cost would be about $190,000, with all but $10,000 financed for either five- or seven-year terms.
“[They] gave us several rates [with] five years at 3.37 percent for $3,293 per month [and] seven years at 3.62 percent for $2,453 per month,” he said. “We can pay semi annually or annually also.”
Councilman Dale Trotter inquired about the service time typical for ambulances.
Thornton said 10 years was typical and asked what financing option the mayor and council would prefer.
Mayor Bruce Morrison said the city would present the options to Finance Director Janet Wilson to ascertain the most advantageous option.
Councilman George Tasker made a motion, which was subsequently approved, to allow Thornton to proceed.
“My motion is to go for it,” he said. “Whichever Janet thinks is best, five or seven years.”
Cypress Park
Housing and Zoning Coordinator Dan Brandewie received council approval to apply for grant funding through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to perform upgrades and repairs at Cypress Park.
During fiscal year 2018, the DNR Community Parks and Playgrounds Program provided $2.5 million for 23 projects statewide, according to its website.
“Three major components that staff will be recommending that we consider applying for … is remodeling the restroom showers and the two restrooms,” he said. “The second component would be to look at bank stabilization and erosion on the stream banks that is jeopardizing, I think, the tennis courts and walkway right now.”
The other change Brandewie recommended was converting two of three tennis courts for pickleball play.
“Related to that would be to improve the lighting and the circuit breaker box,” he said.
Although firm project costs have yet to be calculated, Brandewie said if approved the state funding should cover all expenses.
New K-9
Pocomoke Police Chief William Harden received council approval to replace the department’s recently deceased K-9, Jet.
“Jet was a trained single-purpose animal, being a drug dog,” he said. “We’re proposing to have a dual-purpose animal.”
Harden explained a dual-purpose K-9 is trained for both narcotics detection and patrol services.
To trim costs, Harden said the department was able to source an expert police K-9 trainer, J.C. Richardson, CEO of Pittsville-based Delmarva K-9, who has 20 years of experience preparing canines for service tasks.
“We looked at a number of things and I think we kind of lucked out because we have Mr. Richardson in our area,” he said. “So that negates the fact of us having to send an officer away for training [and] pay for housing for that officer.”
Harden said the department already has the bulk of required equipment from its last K-9.
“We did have insurance on K-9 Jet and we also had a $1,000 donation made to us some months ago from the [Pocomoke] Elks Club,” he said.
Harden is anticipating the new canine will be ready for service in roughly three months.