Two candidates move forward in hiring of Roscoe Police officers

Two lateral (experienced) candidates for positions with the Roscoe Police Department have completed the initial evaluation and will complete the psychological evaluation on Aug. 16. Medical and physical evaluations will follow, said LeAnn Jones, chairman of the Roscoe Village Police and Fire Commission,  in her report at the August 4 Committee of the Whole meeting. The Village Board authorized the hiring of three additional officers at the June 3 meeting.

In other business, Village Trustees recommended the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Winnebago County Health Department and the Roscoe Police Department implementing a drug overdose prevention program, including instructional programs on the use of Narcan.

Police Chief Jamie Evans said there have been 19 overdose cases so far this year.  There would be no liability for the Village in hosting the program.

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Residents of Deerwood Subdivision were given a green light regarding a Special Event Permit for a block party on Saturday, Aug. 28, including the closure of the Cartwright Court cul-de-sac, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Trustees discussed travel expenses for those Village personnel that wish to attend the Illinois Municipal League annual conference in September. Trustee Michael Dunn, Village Clerk Stephanie Johnston and Village Administrator Scott Sanders expressed interest in attending. Allotted travel expenses will be $1,400 per attendee. Trustees agreed that those attending must have been vaccinated. Johnston said she has chosen not to take the vaccine.

Sanders led discussion of landscape maintenance improvements of boulevard islands that are within the public right-of-way in some of the Village subdivisions. Those mentioned are the entrance to Crystal Hills, Clearwing, and Prairie Ridge Subdivisions.

“Maintaining the landscape in the middle of the boulevards is the responsibility of our Public Works Department,” Sanders said.

Sanders recommended cleaning up and removing the old material, adding 12 inches of topsoil and putting in hardy plantings.

Replacing residential subdivision entrance signs in various locations throughout the Village was also discussed.  According to Sanders, many are either missing or in bad shape. An example was Chicory Ridge Subdivision where there is no signage at the entrance. Trustees discussed size, design and materials to consider.

The items discussed at the Committee of the Whole will be voted on at the general Board meeting, Tuesday, Aug 17, beginning at 6:30 p.m.