The Picayune Police Department officially received more than 30 heavy-duty bulletproof vests Tuesday as part of a local effort to protect the lives of local officers.
Saving Police Lives was an effort started by Tonya Cialona that raised money for the effort last year. The effort collected about $19,500 from local organizations, clubs, citizens and anonymous donors.
Tuesday, the Picayune City Council approved a motion to accept the donation of 36 vests capable of protecting officers from assault rifle rounds, the kinds used in shooting events that have killed many officers nationwide.
Those vests totaled $11,152.
“The people we’re sworn to protect are now protecting us,” said Chief Bryan Dawsey during Tuesday’s meeting.
Dawsey said there are now enough of the special vests for each officer in the department, but won’t be worn on a daily basis. That is because since these vests are intended to protect the wearer from high-powered rounds, they employ a series of heavy plates. Dawsey said that the vests will be assigned to each officer, who will keep them on-hand in order to respond to active shooter incidents.
In other business, the Council heard from Will Harvey, a representative of Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative.
The organization established Picayune Family Health Clinic in Picayune in 2007, which provides health care at a reduced cost.
Harvey said the non-profit clinic provides that care to anyone that needs medical attention, regardless of income level and employment status.
While the clinic is not free, the cost for each visit is based on the individual’s income level and household size. Harvey said the clinic has also partnered with Walgreens to help their patients procure the medicine they need at an affordable price.
“Medicine is a huge part of getting well,” Harvey said.
The clinic also offers mammograms for patients between the ages of 40 and 64, works with the local Head Start programs to provide wellness screenings and recently teamed up with Picayune’s Excel By 5 to hold a health fair.
The clinic is located at 1911 Read Road and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Results of an audit of last fiscal year’s financial records were presented to the Council during Tuesday’s meeting. Julie Uher of Holt and Associates, PLLC, gave the city a positive assessment of the audit. Councilor Larry Breland asked for a score between 1-10, with 10 being the best. Uher estimated the city would receive a score of 8 to 9 on such a scale, since there were no significant findings or material weaknesses.
While the city has about $8 million in cash on hand, only about $2.4 million is unrestricted. Uher said having a positive unrestricted fund balance is a plus.
In other business, the Council approved a motion to replace floor tiles in the lobby of the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library.
The next Council meeting will be Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. in the Council chambers of City Hall.