Court upholds Willet's firing

ST IGNATIUS — The town of St. Ignatius won the lawsuit filed against it by former Police Chief Charles Willet, who sued the city shortly after being terminated for allegedly not fulfilling his duties as an officer.

Willet took the matter to the Lake County courthouse and appealed the St. Ignatius Police Commission's decision to terminate his employment. District Judge C.B. McNeil reviewed the case and denied the appeal.

"Major complaints" were made by citizens, according to the lawsuit; it also stated that a lack of response to some complaints and the failure to comply with Mayor John Connot's requests that Willet spend less time at the school, be more visible to the public, focus on the drug problem, traffic violations, animal, water and noise ordinances.

Willet was given until January 2004 to "rectify his job performance." The lawsuit then stated that Willet forwarded his performance appraisal to his attorney.

Mayor Connot issued a letter of termination to Willet in February 2004. The lawsuit stated that the letter said the reason for termination was "unacceptable job performance."

The court found that the Police Commission's evidentiary rulings were correct.

In other city council news, the STAG grant for the Mission sewer project has been approved. On Aug. 2, President Bush signed the state grant for $750,000, Connot said.

"The problem we are having now is that the system is obsolete we can't get parts for it," council member Raymond Jensen said.

Fred Phillips of Great West Engineering, who has the contract for the sewer project, said, "we are on track as far as the budget."

According to Treasurer Lee Ann Gottfried, after the meeting, the sewer project will cost $3.9 million and all of the grants are in place.

Officer Jerry Johnson was put on emergency hire in August. Police Chief P.D. Van Hoose said, "He is doing OK."

The only dilemma with Johnson's employment is that he lives in Ronan. For now the city council waived the rule stating that officers must live within eight minutes of the city.

Connot wants Johnson to reappear at the council in 60 days if he doesn't find closer housing. "I want to hear about your progress," the mayor said. "We realize housing is tough in this area; we'd like you to live in this area, but we understand. We'd like our police force living in town where they can see what we see," councilman Jensen said.

"If everyone would quit beating me on the homes, I'd be down here already, Moving is based on the market," Johnson said.

"What we need is a firm boundary on where we can move people," Chief Van Hoose said.

If our officers can't live in town let's think about extending the boundaries, Connot said.

After the meeting, Johnson noted that he was enjoying his job. He is originally from Ronan and said, "It was time to come home."

Employees are not the only new things that are needed in the police department. The police chief is proposing an update of its 35mm cameras to a digital technology package that would include cameras, printers, and computer software.

Lake County Detective Dan Yonkin was at the meeting to explain the need for the new equipment.

The Police department would like the ability to take photos and print images inhouse.

"The 35mm method you are using is too slow and not secure from the general public," said Yonkin. This is the 21st Century way to do it."

"The nature of law enforcement needs us to have state of the art equipment. The courts actually like it opposed to Polaroid," Yonkin said.

"The only thing we are looking at is the cost," Van Hoose said.

The town will soon be brighter after dark. "We are shooting for the end of the month to have 29 new streetlights finished," said Connot.

The town is a little more labeled than previously thought. After looking, it seems the street signs are up on the main streets. They are white with black lettering but some of the posts need straightening up, Connot said.

"We figured we could put the rest on top of the stop signs," said council member Charlie Gariepy.