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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Alexander Officer Maxheimer receives awards during council meeting; Council accepts treasurer’s resignation




(Correction 04/18/2018: Officer Max Heimer should have been Officer Michael Caine Maxheimer. We apologize for the error.)

Before the Alexander City Council got down to regular business Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper was allowed time to present two awards to Police Officer Michael Caine Maxheimer. The ceremony took place during Monday’s (April 16) regular council meeting.

“This is kind of timely, because, to let you guys (council) know what kind of police officers you have here in the city and what they go through to keep our citizens safe,” Harper began. “Police officers aren’t often recognized for the good things they do but they’re often criticized for what they’ve done wrong or perceived (to have) done wrong.”

Before reading the two citations Harper said, “After being an officer for 20 years I can tell you that there’s no doubt in my mind Officer Maxheimer has done both of these things a dozen times and no one ever said anything.”

“For outstanding performance as a member of the Alexander Police Department,” Assistant Chief Harper begins reading from the citation. “On March 27, 2018 Officer Michael Caine Maxheimer responded to a burglary on Rosewood. The victim was an elderly, legally blind citizen on fixed income, which presented multiple communications challenges. Being a community oriented police officer he took a problem solving approach to this case and drove it home to resolution rather than just showing up to take a report. As a result of your persistence and hard work the suspect was in custody and the property was recovered within 24 hours.”

“Your consistency of demonstrating concern for the people of this city and your caring attitude, high level initiative and relentless pursuit of those who would harm our citizens are major contributing factors in your accomplishment,” Harper continued. “A police officer such as yourself sets the example for others to emulate and impress upon the citizens of Alexander that their police department is professional, concerned, caring and dedicated to providing a better environment in which to live.”

Harper then presented Officer Maxheimer with the first of two Honorable Service Medals to a rousing round of applause from those attending the meeting.

The second award was presented for an incident that was much more dramatic. According to the citation, read by Assistant Police Chief Harper, Officer Maxheimer was responding to a mutual-aid call from a Shannon Hills officer investigating a “disturbance” call on February 17, 2018. While en-route the Shannon Hills officer reported over the radio that “shots had been fired” while Maxheimer was still driving to the scene.

Still reading from the citation Harper said Maxheimer, “Arrived, grabbed his trauma kit, quickly assessed the scene and located a man lying on a floor bleeding from a gunshot wound. Over the next 15 minutes Officer Maxheimer and a neighbor treated the victim for shock and fought to control the bleeding while awaiting EMS. Officer Maxheimer, along side the citizen, performed his duties in a professional and efficient manner while maintaining calm demeanor despite the extreme circumstance. Their team work undoubtedly saved the man’s life and prevented further life threatening damage.”

The description of events is based on video from Officer Maxheimer’s body-cam. “There was a struggle to keep the man alive,” Assistant Police Chief Harper said after reading the citation, “It was kind of difficult to watch the video.”

After presenting Officer Maxheimer with the second Honorable Service Medal, accompanied by more applause, Assistant Police Chief Harper said, “We try to recognize our police officers publicly so you need to know, so you can let our citizens know the kind of police officers you have working for you. And, this is not a rarity, it’s a rarity that it’s recognized.”

During the business portion of the council meeting;

The council accepted, by a voice vote, the resignation of City Treasurer Kenneth Miller. Mayor Paul Mitchell received the undated resignation, prior to the March council meeting, and kept it in case it was needed.

The resignation reads, “Sir, This is to thank you for the opportunity to serve this great city. Because of circumstances beyond my control I feel it’s in the city’s best interest that I submit my resignation as City Treasurer. I (am) very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that I have done a good job that helped make this city great.”

Miller was arrested by State Police Thursday, April 5 and, according to a police report, charged with 20 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing sexually explicit content involving a child. He was released from Saline County Jail Sunday, April 8.

In April, 2015 Miller was appointed by the council to fill a vacancy in the treasurer’s position. He was then elected in November, 2016 defeating Julia Ann Wilson 292 to 272.

After Mitchell read the resignation letter, receiving no comments from council members, the resignation was accepted unanimously by a voice vote. The motion made also declared the seat vacant. Anyone wishing to be considered for appointment to the treasurer’s position should contact Mayor Paul Mitchell at Alexander City Hall.

Now that Miller is no longer treasurer, a resolution was presented to council members amending the list of names of those who are permitted to sign checks for the City. Where previously Miller’s name was listed it was replaced with Bookkeeper and Mayor’s Assistant Jo An Churchill. The resolution keeps Mayor Paul Mitchell and council members Juanita Wilson and Dan Church on the list.

The resolution also appoints Churchill as “Acting City Treasurer.” For those who were unaware, Mitchell pointed out Churchill had been elected treasurer in November, 2012 but resigned in early 2013. Council members accepted the resolution unanimously by a voice vote.

Mayor Mitchell presented council members with a quote to light pathway’s in the city park. Alliance Electrical Services, located in Alexander at 16220 Alexander Rd (Hwy. 111), submitted a quote of $50,977.29. The quote includes, “10 Pathway post Lanterns with flag hangers and receptacles on each post,” material, trencher rental, and labor. Mitchell said the posts will include outlets at the top to power Christmas decorations.

Mitchell told council members the lights will be placed along pathways in the park providing not only light for those using the park at night but to also allow police officers to better determine if anyone is in the park after the 10 PM closing time. He also reported a balance of over $304,000 in the park fund. Aside from landscaping Mitchell said this will be the last major park project.

In another unanimous voice vote council members approved a motion suspending the bidding process and accepting the bid.

Council members heard a report from Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck who said the commission has held two meetings; one in March and the other in April. At the March meeting Huck said commission members approved by-laws and elected officers. The by-laws establish the commissions regular meeting dates as, “The second Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December.”

Besides the election of chairman Alderwoman Juanita Wilson was elected vice-chairman and Stephanie Beck was elected secretary. Huck reminded council members the commission still needs two members.

Huck reported that during the April meeting the commission discussed the city’s new subdivision rules and regulations. Huck said after changes are made the document will be given to the city attorney for a legal review. It then must come back to the commission for final approval and then will be sent to the council to accept the commission’s recommendation to adopt the rules and regulations.

Huck added the commission is now beginning to update the city’s zoning regulations. He said a special meeting will be held May 8 at 6 PM in the city hall courtroom.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, May 21. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the City of Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

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