The Town of Alexandria held yet another special-called meeting last Monday evening, this time to address the appointment of a part-time water clerk, as well as fill positions with the Alexandria Police Department.
During the meeting, the board voted unanimously to hire Ambre Ahlgard as a part-time water clerk for the town. Aldermen Jonathon Tripp, Sherry Tubbs, Jeff Ford, Luke Prichard, and Bobby Simpson voted in favor of the hire. “It will be beneficial to have her. Before we had four office staff and now we have only three,” said Mayor Tripp.
The board next took up hiring a new police chief and full-time police officer. Former chief K.D. Smith was terminated on March 20 during a special-called disciplinary hearing of the counsel. Chief Smith had been placed on suspension without pay a week prior by Mayor Beth Tripp, after she handed him a written reprimand.
Alexandria Police Officer Vincent Turocy, had been appointed by Mayor Beth Tripp, as interim chief. Turocy was present at the meeting and had expressed his desire to fill the position at a previous meeting.
The board had also heard from Nathaniel (Nate) Lombard of Sparta, a former White County officer, asking that he be hired by the board as a full-time officer. Nate is married to Veronica Dodge, who worked as an Alexandria officer before leaving for the Smithville Police Department.
There were at least some decent on the hires, with Alderman Simpson saying, “We’re going right back down the same road. I want to talk to the sheriff’s department and see if they will come down here and take it over.”
In previous interviews, Sheriff Ray has expressed that he would not take over the Alexandria Police Department and only continue to provide the area the same amount of coverage the department currently provides, stating that he does not have the staff to provide 24-7 coverage for the town. Currently, the sheriff’s department does patrol the Alexandria and surrounding area with patrols, but not exclusively the Alexandria city limits.
It was also pointed out that to disband the police department the city charter would have to be changed, requiring approval from the state.
A motion was made to hire Lombard as a full-time officer and aldermen Tripp, Tubbs, and Ford, voted yes, while Simpson voted no. Prichard did not vote.
A motion was then made to hire Vincent Turocy as full-time police chief. Aldermen Tripp, Tubbs, and Ford, voted yes, while Simpson and Prichard voted no.
The board then took up action on repairs to a 2018 Dodge Durango, which is in need of air conditioning repair, costing $989.60. The board voted to make the repairs.
Chief Turocy then brought up the need for the police department to acquire new uniforms. Turocy said the current uniforms had been passed down from previous officers for several years and the faded garments were in need of replacement. The cost of the uniforms was $633.95 per officer, plus badges and hats. The total cost to the department for current five officers was $3,876.96. Turocy said the department already has funds in the department to cover the costs. Aldermen Tripp, Tubbs, and Ford, voted yes, while Simpson and Prichard voted no.
There was also a request by the chief to install new graphics on the six police cars at a cost of $499 per unit. The price would include removing the old graphics and installing the new ones. Again, aldermen Tripp, Tubbs, and Ford, voted yes, while Simpson and Prichard voted no.
Mayor Beth Tripp also brought up the issue of renting the doctor’s office building as a possible building for the Alexandria Police Department to relocate. Tripp pointed out that the issue has not been voted on by the board.
