The city of Warren announced the hiring of four volunteer firefighters at the Warren City Council meeting on Monday, July 11. Luke Trussel, Gary O’Neil, Daniel Robinson, and Michael Stanfield were all hired as volunteer firefighters. Warren Fire Chief Chuck Moore told the city council the volunteer fire department has 33 volunteer firefighters.
Chief Moore said if someone wants to become a volunteer firefighter, they must first fill out an application and the application will go through a board of the Warren Fire Department. Then, the application will be sent to the Civil Service Commission to make the final decision.
In his report, Chief Moore said the Warren Fire Department responded to 24 calls in the month of June.
Warren Mayor Denisa Pennington reported the city had received only one bid for a fire truck. The bid was from the town of Banks for the amount of $4,200. The city council approved the bid. Due to the shooting range expansion, the city would need to hire a part-time employee for the Warren Shooting Sports Complex. The city council approved to accept applications for a part-time employee at the shooting range. The Ways and Means Committee will discuss the position’s salary.
Warren Police Chief Shaun Hildreth reported the Warren Police Department was short one patrol officer. He also stated one of the police vehicles required maintenance and it would cost more than what he originally reported.
The Police Committee approved a step increase for Police Officer Jammie Smith from non-certified to certified.
City sanitation manager Rob Johnson presented his monthly report to the city council.
He reported the sanitation department was running two trucks. Johnson also said the renovation at the sanitation office was completed. There was discussion on multiple properties in town that were not in a good state. Johnson encouraged local residents to come to his office and file a formal complaint of properties that need to be cleaned up.
Johnson told the city council the city must issue another condemnation on a property on Howard Street. The property has become a health hazard. Letters were sent to the owner.
Street Foreman Monty Hearnsberger reported the street department was dealing with issues of trees and limbs falling. The street department has been cleaning those up. Hearnsberger also said the street shop needed updating. Roof repairs would cost an estimated $12,000. There was no insulation and no air conditioning in the street shop. He suggested moving the street department to the old National Guard armory. The city council said they would look into it.
It was reported the outside of the city pool was painted. There was also discussion of renovating the facility and the cost.
The next Warren City Council meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, August 8 at the Warren Municipal Building. The agenda will be set Thursday, August 4. The meeting is open to the public.
