Glen Carbon Police to Have Access to New Services
by Kathy Turner
Police Chief Todd Link and Sgt. Steve Deist addressed the Glen Carbon Village Board on Tuesday, Nov. 14 with a proposed new program for officers in the department. Link previewed the program with statistical information about the physical, psychological and financial impact that comes with many in law enforcement and emergency services.
Police officers and first responders are often forced to deal with people in their worst situations. This includes accidents, suicides, domestic violence calls, and even natural catastrophic events. Link pointed out that officers do not just leave that scene with no impact. They take with them the trauma of having to deal with people in their worst possible moments.
Statistics show that the result is an increase in mental health concerns, PTSD, marital and family issues, and even substance abuse in the first responder community. And, first responders are often wary to admit that they face these issues.
Because of this, Chief Link introduced to the Board a phone application – Cordico Law Enforcement Wellness Solution – that he proposed for the department. The program is an application that will be loaded on department-sponsored phones for all officers. It will offer resources, identified by the department, for counselors and professionals that can help officers cope.
It will also address other services for the officers including physical health maintenance through personal trainers, financial guidance and services, and peer programs that will pair officers to assure they always have someone first-hand to reach out to.
Board members agreed that the low cost of the application was a worthy investment for the department. A motion to move forward with the program was approved.
In other business, the Glen Carbon Board approved an amendment to the Village’s Gardening Landscaping Enhancing Nature Committee (G.L.E.N.). The amendment will outline the duties of the committee to act as the Tree Advisory Board for the Village which will open the possibility of a Tree City USA designation.
Two other approved amendments make changes to the Village landscaping guidelines.The first will eliminate a requirement for developers to provide a landscape escrow deposit. It was determined that such escrows are already required by funding sources for developments prior to funding approval. The second offered minor changes in the ordinance for landscaping, primarily addressing the need for a final landscaping plan approval and additions to the approved street tree list.
A review of Village ordinances also led to suggested revisions to the municipal code. Approved were amendments to the code that will increase the convenience fees for residents submitting village payments in the form of credit or debit cards, an annual fee of $25 for business registrations, renewal dates for liquor licenses to all fall on January 1, and an increase in plumbing permit fees to coincide with an increase of outside contractor fees for the inspections.
The public works department presented several items for approval. The first was an acceptance of the Orchard Town Center Phase 1 infrastructure and roadway improvements.
A letter of understanding was also approved with the Illinois Department of Transportation for improvements to the State Route 157 and State Route 162 intersection. The state will begin a project to align the intersection in Spring of 2024.
The next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28 beginning at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.
