The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

Dan Benitz was sworn in as the new City Councilperson. He was elected on November 8th to fill a vacancy until the end of the current term through December of 2019.

The Council then appointed Amelia Carman to the fire department along with appointing Jason Kroeger to Police Sergeant with a salary of $48,902.

The Council also approved a lot at the intersection of Perry and North Locust streets for a new impound lot for the police department and the Greene County Sheriff’s office. Both law enforcement agencies use Durbin Automotive to tow abandoned vehicles and they are not getting payment from the owners. The new impound lot would allow both agencies to auction off those vehicles to pay for the towing services.

The Council then approved to add another police officer to increase the department to eight individuals. The decision came after an initial presentation by Police Chief Mark Clouse and Captain Heath Enns about the need for another officer to help with their increasing amount of calls for service and to be a more proactive department. The City would have to pay about $43,058 for the new officer with benefits.

The Council also approved engineering services with Bolton & Menk about two proposed pavement replacement projects at Deer Run and the alleyway by Lincoln Way, along with Locust, Harrison and Chestnut streets for $30,350.

The Council then approved to appropriate rebates for Lincoln Ridge Estates and the Jefferson Hotel Group LLC as presented and Wellmark as the insurance carrier for the City with increase in rate of 6.87 percent.

The meeting ended with a quarterly report from Jefferson Matters: Main Street.