The Jamestown City Council approved tax rates, increased stipends for volunteer firefighters and authorized more than $12,000 in police purchases during Thursday night’s meeting.
The council unanimously approved the city’s ad valorem taxes on real and personal property, along with a tax on deposits at financial institutions in the city.
Council members also approved doubling the annual stipend for members of the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department, from $600 to $1,200. Individual payments depend on fire runs, training and other participation. Fire Chief Jeff Landers and City Clerk Tyler McGowan use a longstanding formula to calculate monthly payments.
A request for police equipment and uniforms prompted approximately 45 minutes of discussion.
Police Chief Nathan Antle requested just over $17,000 for several purchases, including equipment and uniforms for a new officer expected to be hired in mid-November and begin academy training by the end of that month.
The request also included training and duty ammunition, replacement uniforms, new dress uniforms, and holsters and accessories for firearms recently obtained through a grant.
After motions by Councilmen Dwight Richards and Tony Wright failed, a second motion by Richards received unanimous approval.
The council authorized approximately $4,000 for items required for the new officer’s academy training, along with ammunition for mandatory qualifications and duty use, and holsters and accessories for the new duty and off-duty weapons.
The total projected cost is just over $12,100.
Requests for replacement uniforms and new Class A dress uniforms were put on hold until Chief Antle obtains additional information and pricing.