| Ozment picked as Obion’s new chief of police |
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Posted: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:08 pm
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Keith Ozment
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By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Keith Ozment will succeed Royce Aker to become Obion’s new police chief effective June 1.
The Obion City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to promote Ozment, with board member Mike Miller and mayor Rodney Un-derwood voting against the motion made by board member Polk Glover.
Voting for Ozment were board members Gracie Ashley, Bob Anderson, Glover, James Depriest and Patsy Barker.
There was no discussion following Glover’s motion and preceding the vote to promote Ozment. He will be paid a salary of $35,000, with no other details about his hiring discussed during Monday night’s meeting.
Also, the board hired Richard Pollock as a new police officer in Obion. Pollock’s hiring was approved by a 7-0 vote.
Ozment is a native of Dyer County and has 26 years of experience in law enforcement. He previously worked at the Obion Police Department about 11 years ago and returned to work at the department about a year ago.
Prior to that, Ozment was a patrol supervisor for the Newbern Police Department.
“I love the community and the people,” Ozment told The Messenger. “I would also like to thank the board of aldermen for their support.”
Ozment and his wife, Dawn, have eight children between them and two are still living with the couple in Obion.
Also during Monday night’s 40-minute meeting, the council:
• Was informed by Underwood he has been working on a 2013-14 city budget that should be ready for review by the council’s April meeting.
• Was informed by Underwood the city needs to purchase “several” new water and gas meters. He said new water meters will cost $35 each and new gas meters will cost $95 each.
• Was updated on work being done on the city’s code book and plans being made to establish a city planning and zoning board.
• Approved a $950 bid from James Hack, an Obion County constable, for the city’s 2005 Crown Victoria patrol car. His was the highest of three bids received for the vehicle.
• Accepted a $72 per ton bid for asphalt from Ford Construction Co. The city will use the hot mix on an as-needed basis to repair city streets this year.
• Approved the second reading of an ordinance prohibiting the use of engine compression brakes in the city and an ordinance establishing a ditch cleaning policy.
• Unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow a mini-storage business to operate at the former city hall site in town. Businessmen Tim Blackley and Bob Reavis bought the former city hall site from the city recently and are setting up a mini-storage operation there.
Monday night’s meeting was opened in prayer by Depriest and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Underwood.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 3.6.13 |
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