ST. MARYS — During Monday’s St. Marys City Council meeting, Sgt. Michael Shaffer of the city police department made a short demonstration with the department’s newest K-9 officer, “Nando.”
“Nando” recently joined the police department but has already conducted three school searches and helped to find a pound of methamphetamines and 1,000 stamp bags of heroin.
“Nando” is replacing “Copper,” who retired as the department’s K-9 officer after seven years on the job.
As part of a demonstration before council on Monday, Shaffer hid a cotton swab with a cocaine scent in the council chambers to showcase how officers work with “Nando” to find drugs.
Additionally, City Manager Tim Pearson wore a protective sleeve to see how “Nando” responds to individuals becoming aggressive towards Shaffer.
After the presentation, council began its normal meeting.
Council approved a $113,485.50 expense through bond funds for parking lot repairs throughout the city. The funds will be used to prepare several parking lots for resurfacing, including the police/firehall lot on Erie Avenue, the firehall lot on South Michael Road, the city hall lot on Lafayette Street, the parking lot on Brusselles Street, the municipal lot on Depot Street, the Detsch lot on North St. Marys Street and the parking lot on Market Street.
This work will be the first phase of a two-phase project.
The first phase will prepare the lots for resurfacing, while the second phase will resurface the lots.
Pearson estimated that work could start within the next few weeks.
The second phase of the resurfacing project is estimated to cost $200,000, officials said.
A brief discussion on the project occurred on Monday after Councilman Ned Jacob asked why the city was using bond funds for the project and not parking revenue.
Pearson said the city does not bring in nearly enough money through parking revenue to pay for the project.
Decisions relating to the city’s parking continued as council approved a motion to offer free parking throughout the city between Black Friday and Dec. 26, as well as on light up night.
Free parking for this time is expected to cost $8,000 in revenue for the city.
Additionally, council approved a motion to provide Bleggi Real Estate LLC. with $3,240.44 in funds from the downtown economic development program project.
Council allocated approximately $30,000 in its 2015 budget for economic development through some parking revenue. Some of those funds are still available.
The funding for Bleggi Real Estate will be used for various material and labor costs for inside improvements and signage for the business.
