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GIRARD -- Police Chief John Freeman is seeking council's support to use $27,000 in opioid settlement funds for a dedicated narcotics/evidence processing station at the police department.
Freeman told city council Monday the police department does not have a dedicated station like other departments for officers to process narcotics safely. He said officers would be able to weigh and test any narcotics brought to the department, such as fentanyl, heroin and other drugs.
"It would help and protect our officers if we had a designated processing area in the department. This project would directly provide our officers with safety and help when directly responding to opioid issues in the community," Freeman said.
He said the equipment will protect officers from unnecessary exposure and protect the drug evidence for prosecution. He said the location would be an enclosed protected area with special lighting, scales, testing equipment and specialized filters.
Freeman said the city has received $117,000 in opioid settlement funds so there would be funds available for the $27,000 processing area. He said the police department has not spent any of the opioid settlement money and the project is an approved use of the money.
He said Champion, Cortland and Bazetta have used opioid settlement funds on similar equipment.
Freeman requested Law Director Pete Malvasi prepare an ordinance to allow him to spend the money on the project.
In other business, engineer Zachary Teter said he is working with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership to get vacant homes and structures in the city demolished. He said he has worked with TNP on a list of vacant properties that were declared unfit for human habitation and wants to proceed with getting them taken down.
Teter said TNP officials said the cost for demolition per structure is $23,000, with the city to contribute $17,250 for each demolition.
Councilman Thomas Grumely, D-4th Ward, praised the zoning department for staying on top of zoning violations of vacant homes in different parts of the city. Teter said staff has been looking at different structures and plans to proceed with getting at least three taken down.
He said he is also checking with TNP to see if $69,193 in American Rescue Plan funds the city has to use by November can be used for demolishing the alley and an office room at the Wellman Theater off West Liberty Street.
Also because Park and Recreation Director Mark Cardero has faced noncooperation from people vaping at the parks, Mayor Mark Zuppo requested a smoking ordinance already on the books be brought before council to be updated to include no vaping on city properties, including the parks.