by PJ Rooks
Landmark reporter

The Platte City Police Department has been given a preliminary green light by city aldermen to move forward with the purchase of tasers (stun guns) for some of its officers.

The preliminary approval given was a small part of many pages' worth of possible city expenditures for fiscal year 2011. A letter to the board of aldermen from city administrator Jason Metten emphasizes that items given preliminary approval are those found by aldermen to be in keeping with the board's stated goals and may still be subject to elimination in later stages of the budget development process.

For all associated equipment and training, the purchase of three tasers will cost the city $4,327.75. In discussing the possible expense, Alderman Andy Stanton asked if tasers are really necessary in a small town like Platte City.

"It doesn't matter how small a town is or how big the town is," said Carl Mitchell, police chief. "Especially in the smaller towns when you've got less backup, you're more apt to have the need for a taser.”

Mitchell said he expects to ask again next year for three more tasers so that all officers will have one.

Aldermen also gave their preliminary approval to the police department for $1,400 to $2,000 to purchase and beta-test two VIDMICs. Mitchell explained that a VIDMIC works similarly to the in-car video cameras used by all squad cars but instead of being attached to the car, is a small device which can be attached to an officer's clothes to record video and audio exchanges when leaving the car.

"It is the same justification for the in-car camera as for the (VIDMIC)--it protects the officer, protects the city and makes everybody more accountable for what they do," said Mitchell.

The police department will field test the VIDMICs and will consider purchasing more in upcoming years.

The board also approved a second installment of $30,000 in a two-year savings plan intended to be used toward the construction of a skateboard park. Dannie Stamper, parks and recreation director, said that with approval, he hopes to move forward with construction in 2012 and that one of the locations being considered is the area just south of the rest home.

Many of the aldermen and the police chief agreed that a skateboard park would help to reduce the public nuisance and destruction caused by skateboarders in areas not intended for their use.

Preliminary approval was also given for $556,800 to be paid to the Missouri Department of Transportation toward a Capital Improvements Program partnership that will pay for street improvements. Other street improvements found to support the board's goals included a $50,000 deposit to the Riverview Park Road Fund and $15,000 for maintenance of roads in the city cemetery.

Aldermen also gave a nod to the $450,000 construction of an ultraviolet disinfection system that will enable the city's wastewater treatment plant to renew its operating permit with the Department of Natural Resources in 2013, approved $150,000 in funding to restore the wet well at the wastewater treatment plant and allocated another $23,000 for sewer maintenance.

Improvements to Riverview Park will absorb another $25,000 of the preliminary budget items and will include extending water service to the baseball fields and installing backstops. Another $15,000 was tagged by aldermen to build a 300-foot, asphalt walking trail west of Ensign Hill Drive contingent upon receiving grant funds from the Platte County Parks Department. Other items approved by board members included purchases of landscaping equipment, new light fixtures for city hall and new Christmas lights, among others.

Aldermen did not approve the purchase of Incode software to update the city's web-based bill paying system.