Cynthiana gives OK for PD body cam

By Dave Pearce

At the most recent Cynthiana Town Board meeting, public safety was the biggest issue considered as Fire Chief Steve Sims talked about the lack of volunteers for the Cynthiana Fire Department and the board discussed outfitting the Town Marshal with a new body camera.

After some discussion, Town Board President Jeff Gee indicated he had researched and got a quote from Axon for a body camera. Board members approved the acquisition of the camera on a 60-month contract for a total of $3,574.80, the equivalent of $714.96 per year.

Sims, the head of the fire department, indicated that lack of volunteers for the Cynthiana-Smith Township Fire Department has reached a critical point. He indicated that usually there are only two people who go out on the town’s fire runs.

Sims told the Board that several fire chiefs in the area have gotten together and discussed the possibility of forming a county-wide fire department, utilizing all the fire houses to assist on calls if needed.

The City of Mount Vernon and the Black Township Fire Department have recently implemented a mutual aid agreement so that when a 911 call comes in. both departments respond to the call. So far, the agreement has nothing but positive reviews. However, in the smaller communities that are further apart from each other, Sims there are several things to consider, such as an increase in property taxes. He did indicate the discussion is still in its earliest stages and agreed to keep the Board informed.

In other business:

*Town residents Patty Wilson and Marsha Martin spoke to the board regarding their interest in wanting to include the town bandstand in the Historical Society’s list for Posey County. Wilson indicated she had been in contact with an official from the National Historical Society board. More research is being done and the ladies agreed to keep the Board apprised of future developments.

*The possibility was brought up regarding limitation of the hours that the Mainstream Internet Company can work in Cynthiana during its upcoming installation phase. Although the board did not adopt a resolution at this point since work has not begun, preliminary hours of 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on weekdays with no work on the weekends was discussed. The board tabled further discussion and/or a vote until the next board meeting.