GIRARD — Police Chief John Freeman is asking for city council’s support for an impound lot for the police department that would help generate revenue for the city and assist people who need to get their vehicles.

Freeman told council at Monday’s meeting that many area communities, such as Howland, Niles and Warren, have impound lots run by their police departments.

“This would be for impound purposes only. Vehicles involved in accidents would still go to a private company. The impound lot would be for vehicles needing to be impounded due to warrants, criminal offenses and felonies of the drivers. It can also be used for stolen vehicles that are recovered,” he said.

Girard police now use private companies that tow the vehicles involved in violations and impound them at different locations.

Freeman said the city having its own impound lot would make the process of people getting their vehicles easier, and the impound release fee and costs would come to the city. He said the city has had many vehicles involved in traffic offenses and other violations towed with contracted private companies.

He said an impound lot could be created on city-owned land across the street from the police department.

Freeman said there would be staff in the department who can handle the impound lot and accept payments from people recovering their vehicles.

Freeman requested legislation be prepared for the May 11 meeting.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said there was a recent incident in which a man had a trailer with his lawnmower in it stolen, but police were able to locate the person responsible and recover the trailer. He said the trailer was impounded, and the owner is the one who has to pay to get the trailer.

Zuppo said the owner should not have to pay the impound cost, but the person who stole it should.

Freeman said he can see if Girard Municipal Court may be able to help the resident.

Also, Freeman said the police department, with the assistance of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, secured a $24,448 grant for police body cameras and $46,734 for addressing domestic violence issues, including specific training for police officers to deal with domestic situations.

In other business, council gave final reading to legislation on regulating short-term rentals in the city.

Freeman said there needs to be measures in place to deal with problems of various after-hour parties involving juveniles at some short-term rental properties in the city. He said there also have been complaints with excessive traffic at some of the rental locations.

Resident Annette Minniti of Stambaugh Street said her street has 14 rental properties on it and noted that two house fires this year occurred at rental properties.

“I want to know if rental properties in the city are being inspected like they should be,” she said.

Safety Service Director Glenn Holmes said the properties are inspected by the zoning department with data kept on the properties to make sure they are in compliance with zoning codes.