Redkey to use new system

REDKEY — Major changes in communication are ahead for Redkey police.
Town council members agreed unanimously Thursday to spend about $6,500 of Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) public safety funds to tie in to the Spillman police record management system already in place at Jay County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is going to bring us up to the 21st century,” town marshal Todd Miller told the council.
Redkey will see significant savings by not having to buy its own server to house the system. Instead, it will run the system on the server already in place at the sheriff’s office.
Portland Police Department is also making the move to the Spillman system and is now undergoing training. It’s expected that Portland will be using Spillman by July, and Redkey could be on board before the end of the summer.
Under the Spillman system, police departments share a single database that stores information on individuals, vehicles and properties. If, for example, an officer is dispatched to a location he or she will have instant access to any complaints or criminal history related to that site. If a vehicle is stopped by police, the officer has instant access to similar information about alerts, warnings and arrest history.
“It could save lives,” town council president Kyle Champ said.
Under Indiana law, a portion of LOIT revenues must be set aside for public safety expenditures.
Clerk-treasurer Debbie James told the council there are sufficient funds in the LOIT account to go ahead with the Spillman purchase.
The Spillman system also requires an annual maintenance fee of $843.
With the move, Redkey will also make a major change in how police are dispatched. While the Redkey Fire Department is dispatched by the Jay County Sheriff’s Office under the 911 system, currently 911 calls for Redkey police are routed from the sheriff’s office through Dunkirk Police Department for dispatch.
“The change,” said Miller, “gets the full effect of our 911 system” and should speed response times.
In a related move, the council unanimously agreed to upgrade cell phones for all town employees — including police — to smartphones.
The increased monthly expense is expected to be minimal.
In other business, the council:
•Agreed to hire Alt and Witzig Consulting Services, Carmel, to conduct an asbestos survey and sampling at the wastewater treatment plant at a cost of $1,200.
•Noted that there will be an event — called Redkey Day — at noon Saturday at Redkey Town Park to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Redkey’s 1985 state softball championship team.
•Set an executive session for 8 a.m. May 30 in the former town hall to review employee performance and applications for part-time employment. The session was sought by town council member Greg Curme, who has responsibility for the street department. There has been ongoing friction between Curme and the department’s sole employee, John Pierce.
•Agreed to make 12 old fire hydrants available for sale at $100 each to Redkey firefighters. Those not purchased by firefighters will be available to the general public at a later time.
•Ended a $50 water shut-off fee during regular business hours the first time it is sought. Any additional shut-offs or re-connections will be at the current $50 fee, and weekend shut-offs will still be $75.
•Heard complaints from resident Jim Olvey about the state of Halfway Creek. Olvey urged the council to attend a meeting of the county drainage board and “raise a little hell.” Champ said the council will contact the drainage board to pass along his concerns.
•Decided to look into switching the entrance and exit signs on the town hall parking lot just off Indiana 67 in order to eliminate a traffic hazard.
•Learned that the number of dog complaints received by police has dropped, that new park speed limit signs had been installed and that an air compressor at the fire station needs to be replaced.