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Pinckneyville council members to pick interim police chief tonight

BY ADAM TESTA, The Southern

Monday, January 28, 2008 2:43 PM CST

PINCKNEYVILLE — Public safety issues stand at the forefront of tonight’s Pinckneyville City Council meeting.

Council members will vote on Mayor Joseph Holder’s recommendation to appoint Kenny Kelly, an officer with the Pinckneyville Police Department, as interim chief effective Feb. 1. Kelly will replace Paul “Buddy” Day who was asked by Holder and Police Commissioner Martin Beltz to retire following an internal investigation showing a lack of effective leadership.

The council will also approve Holder’s recommendations for a search committee for a full-time police chief. The members of the committee will be residents Mary Roe and Samuel Folk, as well as Holder, Beltz and Perry County State’s Attorney David Stanton. Holder hopes to have a permanent chief in place by May 1.

The resignation of police officer Christopher Brooks will also be voted on for approval at the meeting.

In addition to the above action, the council will also:

-Discuss possible cell phone service changes for city employees and departments,

-Discuss levelized billing and extension policies for city utilities and

-Hear a presentation on a Business District Redevelopment Plan for the city from Gene Norber of Economic Development Resources.