Addison Watson will now serve as a reserve police officer for New Bloomfield. The police department is slotted for six officers but has only had three for several months. New Bloomfield Mayor Michael Lowe Sr. swore in Watson just after the board of aldermen meeting Thursday night.
Watson has prior experience as a police officer in Columbia, where he lives. He is an emergency room nurse and graduate student. He is studying to become a nurse practioner. Once he is finished with school, Watson said he would like to move to a small town like New Bloomfield.
Watson said he hopes to give back to the community by serving as a reserve police officer. He is also volunteering his time to maintain his status as an officer, since he no longer works as an officer full time.
Prior to Watson being sworn in, the New Bloomfield police department had two paid officers and one reserve or volunteer officer. Now, they will have two paid and two volunteered.
Chief of Police Chris Hammann said he has two other candidates to bring before the board. He wants to have a few part-time officers so the department can better work around each officer's availability. Since reserve officers often have other job commitments, Hammann said multiple reserve officers makes scheduling easier.
In other business, the aldermen approved lower property tax rates and approved selling two vacant lots in the city at its meeting Thursday night.
The property tax change came on the recommendation of the state auditor. The tax rate for debt service was lowered from $0.9005 on every $100 to $0.8960. New Bloomfield has sufficient funds in its debt reserve to lower the levy.
The amount used for general municipal purposes was lowered from $0.3147 to $0.3177.
No one showed up for a public hearing before the vote on the tax rate changes.
The board also approved selling two vacant lots next to the New Bloomfield post office to the Missouri Rural Water Association. The board was unable to comment on what the Missouri Rural Water Association had planned for the land. It purchased the land from the city for $4,500.