Saratoga PD hires more staff, discusses raises

The Saratoga Police Department was a top subject for the Saratoga Town Council during their November 21 meeting. The governing body approved hiring three new employees and discussed raises for current dispatchers.

Other matters discussed by the council included the fate of the wading pool at the municipal swimming pool and brownfield studies for the old police department.

PD Staffing Issues

Police Chief Mike Morris made a presentation on staffing issues at dispatch services under reports from his department. Chief Morris said he has two employees who meet the professional dispatch level with the state of Wyoming and qualify for a $1 an hour raise. With the town’s debt situation, the department cannot afford that in the budget “at this time,” he said. He would “like to do this as soon as possible.” The cost of training is another consideration in the expense.

“I can’t in good conscience right now [do this] knowing the money pitfalls we’re facing in the police department,” he said.

The chief told the council he has three new employees lined up as potential hires, if they meet the qualifications. They are one full-time dispatcher and two part-time call takers. The full time applicant is Joshua Mathieu who has been interviewed, taken the psychological test and still has to get a physical. His pay rate would be $19 an hour. He was a communications officer with the National Coast Guard.

Tiffany Moore and Tana Davi are candidates for the two call taker positions. The call takers, until they are certified dispatchers, can take the initial calls and if more detailed information is required, transfer the call to County Sheriff’s Dispatch.

Council approved hiring two call takers and one full time dispatch person, when and if they qualify and are certified.

In other police department business, Chief Morris said the VPN Gateway equipment bringing remote dispatch capabilities to Encampment could not be installed until after January 1.

Councilwoman Kathy Beck asked if the town has identified some grant opportunities to help pay for the equipment and installation.

The chief said he did not know of any grants that would be readily available. However, there is a possibility the cost could be shared with the sheriff’s department.

He said the Memorandum of Understanding with the Sheriff’s Department for Emergency Dispatch Services Assistance starting on Nov. 20 is designed to compensate the sheriff’s department for its assistance. The cost to the town is $75 an hour and $125 an hour if overtime.

Councilwoman Kathy Beck asked if the town has some sort of estimate of what to expect in terms of expenses from this arrangement.

The chief said he estimates the cost to be $36,725, including some overtime.

Also on the agenda was a motion to approve several liquor licenses, which passed.

Wading Pool Fate

Another agenda item involved the issue of whether to demolish or repair the wading or “baby” pool.

Penner said they looked at various options, including a total demolition, building a new pool and different liners.

Penner said “there are good arguments to go either way.” Unfortunately the pool next to it is “extremely old” and if the pool closes, the town won’t keep the facility open for a new wading pool.

The best option involves a vinyl liner and partial demolition at a total cost of about $125,000.

Beck asked about the feasibility and cost for instead putting in a splash pad.

Penner said a 80 by 60 foot splash pad would cost from $375,000 to $400,000.

Beck made a motion to pursue further options on not restoring the baby pool.

The motion passed.

Cleaning up

Planning Commission Chairman McCall Burau made a presentation on using a grant to fund a cleanup at the “old police department.” The Department of Environmental Quality has cleanup loans.

Burau said the Community Assessment Grant pays for a study to determine if the site is a brownfield and then to clean it up if it is. The grant also pays for feasibility studies to help towns decide what to do with the site once it is clean.

Mayor Davis asked what happens if the site is found to be contaminated and the department does not fund a grant to clean it? Would the town be obligated and required to clean it up?

The council asked for more information on the town’s liability before voting on the item.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on December 5 at Saratoga Town Hall.