Center Point City Council clashes with public over lack of police department

The July 26 meeting of the Center Point City Council saw council members get into a heated debate with a member of the public over the city’s lack of a police department. The meeting also featured discussion on the city’s policy of paving roads and how that policy interacts with state law.

During public comments portion of Thursday’s meeting, Charles Utterback addressed the council, asking several questions about Hillcrest Manor. He asked about the costs to maintain the manor per month and about the lack of a police department in the city.

Council President Barlow replied that establishing a police department would cost more than $3 million. The discussion became heated between Utterback and Barlow, ending with Utterback being escorted out of the building by a deputy.

Center Point resident Marie Utterback, also a member of the Center Point Action Committee, shared that a meeting recently took place with Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight regarding road repairs. She said that Knight told the committee that a proposal was rejected between the county and city. The proposal was for the county to pay 80 percent while the city would pay 20 percent.

Utterback asked the council why the proposal  was rejected. Mayor Thomas Henderson replied that the proposal Knight brought to the council would have the city assume responsibility for paving roads within the city limits. He said that when Center Point was incorporated the state law required that roads would remain county roads.

He continued by stating that Center Point has worked with the county on paving around 20 roads and that the city had state road funds that was supposed to cover four streets. After looking at the cost of federal support, an agreement was made with the county that the city would pay 20 percent and the county would pave seven roads for a lower price. Henderson added that an arrangement was also made for the Polly Reed project where the county would pay up to $600,000.

“We’re trying to hold the county to what the state law stated when we incorporated as a city,” he said.

At the meeting, the council also approved a structure demolition for a property located at 508 15th Ct. NW. The council also approved the purchase of a Ford F-150 truck to replace an older model being used by the city’s public works department.

The next Center Point City Council will be held on Aug. 9, with pre-council beginning at 6:45 followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.