The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher
The Oquawka Village Board approved a $69,000 start-up budget to get their new police department up and running during their regular April board meeting Monday evening at the Village Hall.
Mayor Harold Henshaw, Troy Jern, and Todd Shinnberger are members of the Public Safety Committee in charge of working out plans for the department.
Advertising is being put in local and area newspapers for one full-time and one part time officer.
The $35,000 that Oquawka had been spending on the Sheriff's contract, along with $34,000 more, will make-up the initial $69,000 start-up costs.
Discussed were total weekly hours of 56 which will include one full time officer (38 hours) and one part-time (18 hours) at $14-15 an hour depending on experience for an approximate total of $42,224 for two officers.
The budget allows for the $1.00 car from the Sheriff's Dept., uniform allowance, vehicle expense of fuel, oil, and upkeep, for FICA/SS/retirement, liability insurance, and administrative costs and miscellaneous.
A second budget will be approved once things are up and running and there's a clearer vision of what is needed.