April 2, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville Police Department has a new police officer.
Lane Ball, a recent graduate of Walter State Community College, was hired by the aldermen during Monday night’s monthly meeting at the recommendation of Police Chief Mark Collins.
“We have been a man down for quite some time. I think he will be a great asset to the police department,” said Chief Collins.
After the meeting, Officer Lane took his oath from City Attorney Vester Parsley.
In other business the aldermen voted to fill seasonal positions already budgeted including the hiring of Hoyte Barrett as a mower in the street department along with Jerry Walker, Royce Odom, and Patricia Walker for security at Greenbrook Park. Two part time positions already budgeted for the golf course have not yet been filled and lifeguards for the pool are still being recruited.
“We don’t know how many (lifeguards) we will have yet. We are still recruiting. Some (lifeguards from last year) who are already certified want to come back this year,” said City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson.
The city is adding a new seasonal part time employee, R.J. Bain, primarily to help two others with the mowing chores at the parks. Bain previously worked for 10 years with the city in a full time role. Although his position will now be seasonal and part time at no more than 29 hours a week it is still new city spending and Alderman Brandon Cox questioned the need for the position saying the city got by without it last year. Cox was the lone no vote on the hiring.