Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jun 2006
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2006sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Note: Does not publish letters from outside our circulation area.
Author: Andrea Frampton, The Journal Star Canton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

DRUG TASK FORCE PROPOSED IN CANTON

Interim Police Chief Wants City To Work Independent Of State Police

The city's interim police chief, Bill Doster, told council members 
this week he would like to see Canton adopt its own drug-enforcement 
task force.

"We have a significant drug problem with crack cocaine in Canton," 
Doster told council members during Tuesday's committee meeting.

Doster proposed hiring two additional officers to be trained for drug 
enforcement, which would allow city police to serve their own search 
warrants. Canton police now rely on Illinois State Police to issue 
warrants, which can take hours to receive, Doster said.

With a city drug task force, money confiscated from a drug raid would 
stay in Canton instead of going to the state police as it does now, 
Doster said.

Doster also said the 14 officers are not trained for emergency 
situations such as a hostage crisis, and he would like to set up an 
emergency training program in August.

In an unrelated police matter, the council discussed the city's 
search for a new police chief to replace retired Police Chief Don 
Edwards, who worked for the department since 1975. The search will be 
narrowed to six candidates Monday.

In other business, city engineer Keith Plavek of Maurer and Stutz 
Inc. in Canton advised the Council of at least five problem areas 
noted during a study last month of a 6,000-foot section of the city's 
sewer system.

Plavek said a camera was used in the study, and that collapsed pipes, 
water main breaks and clogged areas are just some of the problems 
with the city's sewer system. The problem areas combined with rising 
storm water have caused sewage water to seep into the city's streets.

"We need to know the condition of the sewers," Plavek said. "It's an 
area easily ignored ... We want to eliminate the (combined sewer overflow)."

Plavek estimates it would cost $140,000 to study an additional 70,000 
feet of the sewage system under the Kilroy Lift Station near Canton Lake.

The council will take a formal vote July 5 on whether to allocate 
$100,000 for further studies.

"We're reactive instead of proactive (with the sewage system)," 
Councilman Joe Reed said. "What amount is put (toward it) is what 
needs to be decided."

At that meeting, Plavek will present a report on separating the storm 
runoffs from the sewer runoffs.

The council also discussed the draft of a new vicious dog ordinance. 
If passed, the ordinance would allow police officers to write 
citations for dogs considered vicious and may prohibit pit bull 
breeds in the city. A final draft will be drawn up in the next weeks.

Councilman Eric Schenck proposed the ordinance after his dog was 
recently attacked by another dog.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman