Atwood Village Board Hires Thoms as Part-Time Police Officer
By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer
Brock Thoms, 25, resident of Arthur, was hired as a part-time police officer for the Village of Atwood at the regular meeting of the board on Monday, Nov. 9.
Thoms has been a full-time officer for the Arthur Police Department for almost two years. A graduate of the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, he also worked as a special agent for the Vermillion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.
The Atwood Police Department is headed by Atwood Police Chief Rob Bross. Other part-time officers include Tim Shadwell, A. J. Ruggierri & Wes Fleener.
Trustee Allen Kilber conducted the meeting in the absence of Village President Davey Herring. Also absent was trustee Heather O’Connor.
During public comment Doris Elmore reported to the board the Atwood Chamber of Commerce was sponsoring a ”Light Up the Town” lighting contest for the holidays. More information would be in the Southern Piatt Record Herald.
The board approved expenditures totaling $85,242.77.
New business included the board approving the Village of Atwood annual financial report that was presented by Kevin Buckley of McGuire, Yuhas, Huffman & Buckley at the October meeting.
The board passed Ordinance 20-0-6 declaring surplus property and authorizing sale of the same. The Superintendent of Public Works Jeff Mercer is hereby authorized and directed to sell the miscellaneous items at the best available price and by the most advantageous or convenient method, including but not limited to, making the miscellaneous items available for salvage, in Mercer’s sole discretion, and to execute any and all documents necessary for the conveyance of ownership of the items to the buyer(s). As superintendent, Mercer may delegate authority to any officer, employee, or individual to assist him in selling the items and perfecting the sale.
The list of miscellaneous surplus equipment is as follows: pull behind leaf rake, table saw, bleachers-5 rows 21 feet long, 8 foot Meyers snow plow, 6 foot pull behind broom roller sweeper, 7 foot 3-point rear plow, John Deere 855 mower deck, PTO generator-Fidelity Electric, truck bed salt spreader-Swenson with 13 HP Honda, homemade leaf vac, Amplifi HD Wi-Fi router, Cub Cadet push mower, small air compressor, grinder on concrete barrel, small leaf vac hopper, 6.5 ft. Alamo flail mower, 7×5 foot water tank, 5 foot Land Pride pull behind mower deck, Hitachi electric jack hammer, street signs, gas powered concrete screed, 25-gallon chemical sprayer, 10-gallon pull behind chemical sprayer, security system monitors, 3100 psi Staley pressure washer, Stihl pole saw.
The board approved Ordinance 20-0-7 changing the number of zoning board members from seven to five.
Village Clerk Nancy Wierman told the board she had contacted the web site company via e-mail, but was unable to talk to anyone in person. Village Attorney Kenny Crossman agreed with the web site company that the village must pay the final installment on the contract signed by former Village President Brodie Farrar. The board voted to send a final payment of $3,883, along with a letter canceling the contract.
The board voted to purchase three new trees (1 oak and 2 maple) for the boulevard area in front of Casey’s General Store from Gingerich Tree Service for $936.00. This will include planting by the company with mulching and tree diaper.
Haley Ely would like to decorate the park area on the East side of the Municipal Building for the holidays. The board voted to approve her request not to exceed $350 for holiday decorations.
The board voted to accept the $605 donated fund to the “park projects” line item.
Holiday bonuses for village employees were approved as set up in the budget.
The next meeting of the board will be held on Monday, December 14, at 7 p.m.
