Brandon Barrett, chief of the Noel Fire Department, told the Noel City Council at its Dec. 9 meeting that the distributions of toys from the annual toy drive will be done at dusk on Dec. 22 in Noel and Dec. 23 in Lanagan.
The fire department will drive through both towns giving out toys to children lining the streets.
The toy drive also received a cash donation of $495 from the Sparks in the Ozarks event held earlier this year. The event also donated $495 to the police department. The council approved allowing the event to be held each year without the organizers having to come to the council for permission.
City Marshal/Police Chief
Alderman Linda Glendenning said she has received several calls about the city switching from a city marshal to a police chief after people read in the McDonald County Press that the city of Pineville is going to vote on the same issue.
Alderman Genaro Salas said he had several people ask about the same thing. Mayor John Lafley said if the council wanted to put the issue up for a vote, it should be done at a regularly scheduled election to save on costs of a special election.
The council noted that City Marshal Paul Gardner's term is not up for two years so the decision was to table the issue for now and see what the residents think before putting it on the ballot.
A city marshal is elected by a vote of the people and a police chief is hired by the city council.
City Departments
Gardner told the council the estimate for fixing the cowling on a police car was about $1,200. He said that is the third time the cowling has had to be replaced on the car. Gardner said he is working with the city of Anderson on a way to help keep this from happening so often.
Christina Willis, street department superintendent, told the council that the city's float was named the grand champion at the recent Noel Christmas Parade. She said that Chris Craig from the street department was responsible for most of the design and work on the float.
Other Business
• Lafley told the council that Walmart had denied the city's request for one of the two entrances at the new Walmart store on Highway 59 be moved to a side street;
• approved increasing the amount of court costs from $34.50 to $36.50 on all court cases. The $2 increase will go to Lafayette House in support of its domestic violence programs;
• noted the animal control department received a donation of 220 concrete blocks for the pound, but needs 200 more to have enough; and
• approved bills in the amount of $66,622.27 and noted revenue in the amount of $61,211.53.
General News on 12/18/2014