Pine Hill Police Department feeling the pinch
By Arthur McLean Editor

Pine Hill Police Chief John Brown could be facing a personnel shortage soon. Brown said a new hire who was attending the police academy recently dropped out, and he is expecting one of his full-time officers to leave the force in the spring for another department.

That will put the department two officers down from its normal compliment of six fulltime employees. And unless Brown can find someone who has already been through the academy, it could be August before a new officer can start serving. "The next academy doesn't start until May, and it takes three months," Brown said.

"That's why we're trying to hire as many part time officers as we can, but sometimes their schedules don't work out to where they're available when you need them," Brown said.

"Departments all over the state are short right now," he said. "It used to be that you didn't have a problem finding people, but it looks like fewer and fewer want to become police officers these days."

Brown said working the town when two or more officers are out puts a lot of strain on the remaining staff.

Council business

Mayor Harry Mason said the engineers have scheduled a preconstruction meeting with the contractors for the new city hall roof. "We should have done that by now, but someone is dragging their feet on this," Mason said.

The house that sat between city hall and AL Hwy. 5 was torn down last week after the town made numerous attempts to sell and even give the house away. Demolition cost the town about $2,950.

The council approved sending a letter supporting Ty Enders' request to have the county abandon a dirt road that goes onto his property near AL Hwy. 10.

The council also approved hiring a consultant to work with the town on making improvements to the town's airport. The airport is in danger of being closed by the FAA if some improvements are not made.

Council member Roberta Jordan passed around addresses for contacts with CenturyTel asking council members to write the company requesting it go ahead with installing residential DSL in Pine Hill.

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