Carbondale Reporter

Village of DeSoto Public Safety Committee met Oct. 25.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

The Public Safety Committee met on October 25, 2017. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss procedures for the Public Service Worker Program and the proposed drone ordinance. Chairperson Brian Gleason called the meeting to order at 4:32 PM.

Present:

John Evans, President

Brian Gleason, Chair

Eric Schuler, Trustee

Paulette Johnson, Trustee

Heath Rushing, Trustee

Ben Doan, Chief of Police

Brent Mosel. De Soto Resident

Chief Doan presented a written draft of proposed procedures for community service workers. The recommended procedures were:

1. The Office of the De Soto Police Department to receive paperwork from Jackson County Probation requesting the Village to be used as a work site.

2. The Office of the De Soto Police Department is to conduct a background check on the individual as to what crime he/she has committed.

3. The Chief of Police can discuss with the Board as to what extra work is needed to be done and /or the individual can be put to work immediately by the Chief of Police.

4. The Office of the De Soto Police Department will meet and discuss procedures with the community service worker as to what job he/she is to do; the time he/she is to arrive at the police department to check in; and the time the job is to be finished.

5. A time card will be made for the community service worker to punch in and out so that the community service hours can be recorded. Work hours by the community service worker will be from 8 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

6. The community service worker is to be observed by the Office of the Police Department.

7. The community service worker is to sign a work release that they will not hold the Village responsible for accidents.

8. The Office of the De Soto Police Department is to sign off on community service hours and turn the paperwork into the Jackson County Probation Office.

Trustee Johnson recommended that the procedures specify which offenses are not acceptable. Chief Doan will compile a list of offenses for the board to review.

Chief Doan suggested accepting no felons and limiting the number of community service hours required for the worker.

The committee agreed to let Chief Doan prepare a final proposal with recommended changes to be presented at the next board meeting.

Mr. Brent Mosel was present to discuss the proposed drone ordinance. He is very knowledgeable about drone regulations and drone operation. Mr. Mosel felt the sample ordinance is very general. He said that the FAA governs the operation and use of drones so he felt an ordinance would be redundant. The Village doesn’t want drones to be a nuisance or to violate someone’s privacy, but FAA regulations cover those issues.

Mr. Mosel had reviewed the proposed ordinance, and he felt some of the language was inaccurate, vague or restrictive beyond FAA rules.

Mr. Mosel doesn’t know if it benefits the Village to have an ordinance. However, if the Village passes one, he recommended changing some of the wording to be more specific and less vague.

Trustee Gleason felt the proposed ordinance is too restrictive and unnecessary, and he is not in favor of passing the ordinance. He said the FAA already regulates drone operation and use, and the Village doesn’t need one. The other committee members agreed.

It is the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee that the Village not pass a drone ordinance at this time.

The meeting adjourned at 5:41 PM.

http://www.villageofdesoto.com/villageminutes.html