La Harpe City Council

La Harpe City Council Hires Tanner Smith as Full-Time Police Officer

By Michael Rodeffer, Quill Reporter

The La Harpe City Council unanimously approved hiring Tanner Smith as a full time police officer in La Harpe at its April 27th regular meeting at the clubhouse at a yearly salary of $49,920. Smith recently graduated from SWIC Police Academy, Southwestern Illinois College, in Belleville.  

Smith was honored with an award at the academy for placing 3rd in the Top Gun category out of 70 graduates.

Councilman Randy Shumaker informed the Council that he and the La Harpe Police Chief Tim Edwards attended the graduation.

La Harpe City Council set Saturday, May 9th, to meet in the City Park to update UTV/Golf cart stickers for the  coming year.  The time will be from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Council also approved renting a port-a-potty to be put on the east side of the City Park for the summer.  

Dave Clover informed the council that the items taken to the Kelso Auction had all been sold and bringing in approximately $1700 minus $380 commission.

Randy Shumaker noted that he had spoken to the owner of the blue house that was destroyed by fire at the east end of La Harpe and was told the owner was planning on hiring a track-hoe and have the house torn down and removed.

La Harpe City Clerk Lucretia McPeak noted La Harpe City -wide Clean-up Day is set for May 15th.  McPeak also noted there should be no loose trash.  Everything should be bagged or in cans.  

It was brought up that an invasive plant was at the reservoir called “curly pond weed”  Tim Graves said the copper sulfate will knock it down but would not totally get rid of it.  Jim Lenix stated he would look into a solution.

Council member unanimously accepted the treasurers report and paying of the bills.

At 7:30 p,.m., the Council went into executive session to discuss an employee, and a water leak issue.  Council re-entered regular meeting at 9:16 p.m.

At the close of the meeting, Tanner Smith was sworn into office as full-time police officer and congratulated by the Mayor and council members.

Council adjourned at 9:23 p.m. Present at the meeting was Mayor Katherine Hasten-Reed, City Treasurer Monalisa Graves, City Clerk Lucretia McPeak, Council members Jim Lenix, Todd Stevens, Randy Shumaker, Dave Clover, Jeff McDowell, Marvin Miller; police officers Tim Edwards and Tanner Smith, City Employee Tim Graves, and guests Kevin Driskell, Becky Smith, Macy Smith, Vivaldi Roberts, John Quigle, Dan Gillett and Michael Rodeffer.