Jewett discusses fair police compensation & park vandalism

Jewett Council heard from Police Chief Ron Carter on several issues at their most recent meeting. “We’ve been quiet on traffic,” Carter shared. “We’ve had a few calls. We’re trying to get properties cleaned up right now.”

Recently, the village has been cracking down on junk cars and other debris and trash in resident’s yards as well as around town. Carter has been working on citing vehicles in particular and many residents have made an effort to get vehicles removed or properly registered/tagged. The process of cleaning up can be slow but Jewett residents are encouraged to get ahead of the citations by cleaning up around their property as soon as possible. With recent warmer weather, and spring around the corner, it’s a good time for many to be outside.

Carter also shared that finding officers to work for the village has been a struggle. “Trying to find people, it’s rough. Adena is paying $25 an hour,” he said.

“I just saw Carrollton is too,” said council member Bobbie Prevot.

Carter said an officer who had previously worked in Jewett expressed willingness to come back but asked for $20 an hour with more hours available to him. Council President Joshua Walters asked Fiscal Officer Linda Ager if that would be possible.

Ager said it would not be feasible and that she wished the police levy had passed. “We’ve had it on there three times,” she said.

“We are the lowest paid police department in, I think, all the counties around us,” Carter said. “Honestly it’s embarrassing. Sheetz gas station in Weirton is paying $19.50 an hour for a gas station clerk. Who wants to do this for $16.50?”

Mayor George Baillie agreed with Carter on this and said the village would work to pass a police levy.

“What do we have to be at to get more coverage?” asked council member Steve Stewart.

“At least $20 an hour. At $20 we’d still be the lowest,” Carter said. “Carrollton is looking for two cops right now and can’t find anyone at $27 an hour.”

Council discussed raising wages and lowering hours in order to make up the cost but the drop in coverage was difficult to stomach. Carter said that several officers said it wasn’t worth giving up their off time from a higher paying job to come to Jewett and work for so little. Council said they understood the sentiment.

The decision seemed to be that for now, council couldn’t do much to bring in new officers but they hope to pass a levy sometime soon to garner funds for the department.

Council member Tammy Verhovec brought up there was additional vandalism at the park. A child’s swing was cut off the set and left on the ground. She shared some other recent destruction in addition to this. “The $2,000 bench we got put in, it’s all ripped up, it’s rusting now. They ripped the rubber up on half the bench. There’s no way to recoat that. Honestly, with all the money we keep putting into our park, I think we need cameras,” she said.

She also stated that there are many options for cameras, from solar powered to just getting trail cameras put up.

“Last year we had problems with windows,” Verhovec said. “Now they have to be replaced because they all have BB holes in them. Last year alone we had three incidences at the park after we just did upgrades where there was graffiti or something that the guys had to go through and repaint and redo.”

The rest of council seemed receptive to the idea of adding cameras to the area. Prevot said she would pursue more information on what options they would have to cover the park.