Huntingburg Common Council greets new K-9 officer
The Huntingburg City Council was introduced to the newest officer on the Huntingburg Police Department during their first monthly meeting last night.
Canine officer Ester is a two-year-old German Shepherd trained as a drug detection dog.
Ester joined the force this week with her new partner, Officer Josh Hemmer. Hemmer told the council that he’s always wanted to be a K-9 officer so about a year ago, he approached the department with the possibility. After receiving the go-ahead, a fundraiser was established to add a dog to the department’s officers.
Before Ester, the department was at the mercy of the availability of three other dogs held by departments in the county. Jasper has officer Adam Bower and his dog, Ares, while the sheriff’s department has Jesus Monarrez and Karma and Brad Kendall and Judge as K-9 units, but the three are not always available when Huntingburg has a time-sensitive investigation.
According to Police Chief Art Parks, the cost for the training for Ester and Officer Hemmer was $8,000.00 and modifications to Hemmer’s police vehicle added another $3,600.00. With donations and City of Huntingburg contributions towards the addition, the department has no unpaid costs and what’s left in the fund will be used for the continued care of the animal.
Hemmer and Ester trained at a special school in Vanderburgh County for four weeks and the newly certified team will hit the road together Saturday night.
In other actions:
-The council heard an update on the Fairmount Cemetery finances. According to President Roger Niehaus and Alan Nass, the cemetery is running short of money for upkeep and maintenance for the remainder of the year. The council allocated $2,000.00 from economic and development tax funds and recognized the cemetery as cultural and historical landmark for the community. The Fairmount Cemetery Board is working on a way to sustain the cemetery’s income to address the need going forward. Councilwoman Linda Summers recommended setting up a Friends of Fairmount fund to which donations can be made; both men assured her that they would address that idea with the board.
-Passed ordinance 2015-32. The ordinance integrates small lot subdivisions into the Huntingburg municipal code. The current code regulates only traditional and large subdivisions. With the construction of the new Hunter’s Crossing subdivision, Planning Director Paul Lake told the council that they needed to make the addition to the code, which sets up requirements for subdivisions the size of Hunter’s Crossing.
-The council set a date of November 19, 2015 at 7:30 pm, for the informational meeting on the wastewater force main project to be held at City Hall, 508 E. 4th Street.
