Piedmont- Tuesday evening during the Piedmont city council meeting Chief Nathan Johnson asked the city council for permission to advertise and hire another officer since one of his investigators left the department to take a position in Jacksonville.  Mayor Bill Baker pointed out in an earlier council meeting that the motion was made and passed that the personal director had the authority to replace the worker and asked why this was being brought before the council.

Greg South District 5 representative responded saying since that motion had passed the council had approved a $1.19 raise for the police department with no clarification on where the funds would be coming from. Mr. South went on to say in his opinion the city should not hire another officer and use the designated funds to cover the raise. Chief Johnson responded to Mr. South’s comments explaining how not filling the position could affect the department.

“Without that position, it creates a heavier workload within the department, and a lot of that’s gonna fall on my shoulders, which I’m already overworked. The things that I can’t take on myself is going to create, over time, that’s uncontrolled. I won’t be able to; we’re not a department that can just work a man down. If somebody has to be off, we have to bring somebody in that is an off day for them to come in and work that.”

The discussion continued with the council talking about potentially using the money designated for a salary for another officer being used to give potential raises to the department to make it more competitive. Mayor Bill Baker said he felt the council needed to either or agree or disagree to letting chief Johnson advertise and hire and new officer and discuss additional money later. A motion was made and second. The council voted 4 to 2 approving Chief Johnson to advertise and hire a new officer.