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Ritzville police officers to get new tasers

RITZVILLE – City police officers will be getting new Tasers in the next few weeks.

Police Chief Dave McCormick gave a department update at the Jan. 18 City Council meeting, noting the his department would be replacing all Tasers.

A Taser is an electroshock weapon used to temporarily incapacitate a subject.

Two of the department’s current Tasers are no longer supported by the manufacturer, Axon, formerly TASER International, he said. The remaining Tasers are expected to be dropped from manufacturer support within the next year. The new Tasers, which cost about $1,900 each, are rechargeable and come with a docking station, alleviating the need to periodically purchase and replace batteries, he said. The replacements are a planned expense in the Police Department annual budget, and the purchase required no action by the council.

In other business during the meeting, City Clerk/Treasurer Julie Flyckt presented the 2021 financial report.

Current expense revenue was up 11% over the prior year, she said. The only declining revenue was property tax down 11% from the prior year, at $350,011.

Annual sales and use tax revenue was up 16% at $515,494 while hotel and motel taxes were also up 17% at $105,320, she said. Annual revenue from golf fees totaled $47,808, up 27% from 2020.

In terms of expenditures, city revenue outpaced expenses by $145,625, she said. The current expense fund ended the year with $406,856 in cash and investments.

Flyckt also announced a broadband grant, received in a collective application with Adams County, which will bring high-speed Internet infrastructure to businesses and dwellings in Ritzville.

Flyckt noted the grant was awarded by the Washington State Broadband Office, and recognized council persons Michelle Plumb and Dennis Chamberlain for their help with the grant application.

“This is a great day for the city of Ritzville,” Chamberlain said.

Flyckt said there would be a meeting with Adams County elected officials, Jan. 19, “to discuss logistics.” See related story in this edition of The Journal.

In other business:

The council approved a certificate of substantial completion for the Weber Road and Galbreath Way paving project. There are punch list items to be completed in the spring by the contractor, Precision Paving, for final completion and release of retainage.

Payment estimate NO. 7 in the amount of $31,837.61 was approved for the Pete’s Lift Station project to POW Contracting. Public Works Director Dave Breazeale indicated alarm conditions and other operational issues at the lift station, experienced during December had been resolved in part, but recommended retaining $19,125 until all public works department concerns could be addressed.

 

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