Caledonia City Council Approves New Tasers and Body Cameras

The Caledonia City Council unanimously approved the purchase of tasers, body cameras, and police car cameras for the city’s police department at its regularly scheduled city council meeting on Monday, April 22.

The city was presented with a quote of $130,108.70 from Axon Enterprise, Inc. payable over five years. Initially, the first two payments amounting to $52,043.48 will be covered by the $124,000 in public safety aid received from the state in late 2023 which remains unspent. The payments in years three, four and five would need to be budgeted for. City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson clarified in the staff report, “The existing tasers are out of service and no longer maintained by the vendor.”  Additionally, he noted that the Houston County Sheriff’s Office has already upgraded their tasers through Axon Enterprises and acquired body cameras for their deputies. Essentially, the contract is a five-year maintenance agreement with equipment replacement scheduled after two years and again at the end of the five-year contract.

Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder convened the meeting at 6 p.m. and led his colleagues and visitors in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members Robert (Bob) Klug, Mayor Schroeder, David Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Stenzel were present. Amanda Ninneman was absent.

The council approved the minutes from the April 8 regularly scheduled meeting.

The consent agenda, which comprised payments and disbursements, a driveway permit to expand the driveway and add a concrete parking pad at 131 Bissen St. and a building permit to add an additional 1,100 square feet of space to the existing building at 801 State 44/76 received unanimous approval.

The city parks crew has cleared the last tennis/pickleball court, dismantled the fencing, and the bulldozer started pushing dirt around on Monday. The Public Works/Zoning Director remarked that progress on the new tennis/pickleball courts is well underway. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, at Sprague Woods to commemorate the launch of the school forest program.

Community members will see a solar farm going up behind the elementary school and one is planned behind the high school. Public Works/Zoning Director Klug believes that there will be more coming.

Dickson announced that the city is up to nine lifeguards, and there are three additional lifeguards signed up for the city sponsored lifeguard class at the end of May.  One of the applicants is interested in the management position. Dickson confirmed that once they have 15 lifeguards, they will get sign-ups started. The one question that remains is lessons as the city does not have anyone WSI certified except for the management candidate. The city may have to offer another WSI class and getting new lifeguards registered but Dickson noted that people want time to get comfortable teaching so the city might need to look at offering swimming lessons later in the season.

Bryan Spier raised concerns about rumors circulating regarding the city’s intentions to hang flower baskets on the light poles this year. He sought clarification on whether these rumors held any truth. In response, Dickson clarified that, thus far, the council has not made any decisions regarding flowers for the upcoming year, aside from the regular budget allocations. Both Director Klug and Dickson have been talking with several groups for the last few weeks as they figure out what to do this year. “It would not be correct to say that the city or the council is against it,” replied Dickson. “One concern is drilling holes into the new light poles to hang flowers, as water is not good for those light poles. We need to find solutions that will work for both sides of that deal.” Mayor Schroeder said that he does not think it has ever been a council decision to have them or not have them. Dickson said that the city is open to ideas. Councilor Klug asked if there was money in the budget for flowers. Dickson and Director Klug agreed that there was money in the budget for flowers. 

There being no questions or comments regarding the overtime reports for pay periods April 1 through April 14, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 6:21 p.m.