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ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP -- Police Chief Brian McKenzie asked the St. Clair Township trustees during their meeting Monday to approve expenditures for a new police vehicle and a new police K9.
The police department will be purchasing a 2022 Dodge Durango pursuit vehicle in the amount of $38,322 from LaPorte Chrysler Inc. in LaPorte, Indiana. The new vehicle will be used for the new K9.
The funds for the new vehicle will be coming out of money raised through donations and the police budget. The chief requested the trustees approve the acceptance of a check from FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) 210 and the K9 fund in the amount of $38, 323 for the purchase of the new vehicle.
According to the chief, this is money that K9 officer Josh Jackson and Keith Hildebrandt, who will be the officer for the new K9, have been able to raise through fundraising across Columbiana County. They held a Columbiana County golf outing and had a nice sum of money come in. The purchase of the new vehicle has been fully funded by the K9 fund out of FOP210.
"I can't thank the community enough for their support that they have given," McKenzie said. "They always support us, but this just shows what type of relationship we do have in our community. Josh (Jackson) and the county K9 team did a great job raising money for each program here. This is definitely going to be a huge asset to the department."
The chief also requested the trustees approve sending a $10,000 deposit to Shallow Creek Kennels which will get them a spot in the spring session for the six-week K9 training program. Hildebrandt will attend that. The funds will be coming from the Drug Law Enforcement Fund.
Hildebrandt, with help from the chief and Jackson, will pick out the dog that is best fit for him and the township when he attends the training in the spring.
The trustees approved the requests with all-in-favor votes.
Also during his report, McKenzie noted that the department had a fill-a-cruiser event at two locations, Giant Eagle in Calcutta and Walmart, and the event went well.
According to the chief this is he believes the first time they have held one for food.
The police department is currently having a toy drive going on in the community.
There has been a tremendous amount of support from local businesses wanting to be a part of the toy drive, McKenzie said. For locations where toys can be dropped off visit the St. Clair Township Police Department's Facebook page.
On Dec. 3, the police department will be doing a fill-a cruiser toy drive at Walmart and The Dollar General on state Route 267 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everything collected during that drive will go to The Elks 258 in East Liverpool to be distributed throughout the local area, not just one specific community.
TJ Maxx opened in Calcutta on Nov. 20.
"They seem to have a great staff there and a great business model they adhere to," trustee Chairman James Sabatini II said. Sabatini also noted that the business is employing 75 people at the store and the job creation that it is bringing into the area is key.
Sabatini also noted that it's nice having the new store there because the more you can keep people in the area, the better it is.
The Travel and Tourism Committee has announced it is going to hold an outdoor Christmas decorating contest for homes in the community and they are preparing for a synthetic ice skating rink in the township on Dec. 17 and 18, either in the Calcutta Square or at Busy Beaver. Funds raised from the rink will go toward Memorial Day events.
The township offices will be closed on Nov. 24 to observe Thanksgiving.
The Travel and Tourism Committee will hold a meeting on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
The St. Clair Township Trustees meet every other Monday of each month at 4 p.m. at the township administration building. The next meeting will be Dec. 5.
Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com