FOP contract, budget amendment approved

 

The allocation of $10,000 by Ironton City Council to the police department for a drug task force is money well spent according to the police.

Capt. Pam Wagner, of the Ironton Police Department, handed out copies of a picture of drugs officers seized in a late-night bust on 400 block of Delaware Street near Ironton Elementary and Middle schools.

“This is an example of some of the stuff our midnight shift guys took off the street,” Wagner said. “In a month or so, we will be able to give you a better update about what’s been going on.”

Council allocated money for the task force this past January in an effort to increase drug enforcement capabilities.

“We have been doing that,” she said. “In conjunction with the task force of the sheriff’s office a few months ago we made a pretty big bust related to some people from Portsmouth.”

Wednesday night’s drug bust occurred with the help of information passed along from other agencies, Wagner said.

“We are working diligently and are trying our best and we appreciate the financial support you give us so we can at least try and make a dent in this drug epidemic we have in our city,” she said.

Paraphernalia such as needles and pipes was also seized in the bust.

“I know you guys get a lot of complaints and we get a lot of complaints that people on that end of town don’t see us,” Wagner said. “Sometimes they are not supposed to see us.”

Ordinance 14-32 authorizing and directing the mayor to execute on behalf of the City of Ironton a collective bargaining agreement between the city and Fraternal Order of Police, The Ohio Labor Council Inc. and declaring an emergency was approved.

The contract is for the year beginning April 1, 2014, and ending March 31, 2017.

Ordinance 14-36 amending the city’s annual operating budget for fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2014, and declaring an emergency was adopted.

Mayor Rich Blankenship said the amendment allows for the hiring of one or two labor positions for the street department.

Resolution 14-37 is the existing pick-up amendment and/or restated resolution of the council of the City of Ironton. The resolution relates to ordinance 14-32 and outlines the contributions from the City of Ironton to the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund effective the first full pension reporting pay period. The resolution was adopted.