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Written by John Hacker
Joplin Grove, Missouri
CARTHAGE, Mo. — With some informal negotiations and some old-fashioned horse-trading, the small Jasper County Police Department was able to meet its immediate needs with the limited funds available from the county’s law enforcement sales tax.
This year, the total amount available for LEST grants was $244,293, and the amount requested by nine area police departments and Jasper County Juvenile Services was $412,239.
Jasper Police Chief Chad Carr said that typically when something like this happens, informal negotiations begin between police departments. This year, the Jasper Police Department was in a position to help.
“When we show up, they tell us how much money has been available for the past year, then tell us the total amount everyone has requested, and give us time to discuss it,” Kerr said. he said. “In Duquesne, they didn’t need our help because their city was going to give them what they didn’t get from LEST. Sarcoxy, I know their fleet isn’t the best. We knew and they told us they wanted a car. We discussed the mileage of each department’s car and it was simple. They had more car mileage than us this year. We needed the funding, so they basically agreed to help us again next year if needed.”
The Jasper Police Department, among other things, was asking for a new car, and about $6,000 of the $51,000 request was made so Sarcoxie could get a new car and other police departments could meet their needs. He agreed to put all the money back into the pot except for.
“We are very grateful and hope that someday we can return the favor,” Sarcoxie Mayor Don Triplett said. “We were having trouble getting vehicles, but like the last one we got, we were able to leverage LEST grants and USDA grants to get new vehicles. This is part of our maintenance efforts, and we have vehicles for patrolling.”
Kerr said the grant, which began in November 2005 when voters approved a countywide one-quarter-cent law enforcement sales tax, has become vital to Jasper County’s small departments. He said it had become.
This tax was passed to increase funding available to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. As part of the proposal, 4.3% of the proceeds were allocated to a grant fund available to small departments within the county. Joplin was already exempt from the subsidy because it already had a law enforcement-only tax.
“Without the LEST grant, people like us, our department, would basically be stuck with a 1988 Caprice with 500,000 miles on it,” Kerr said. “Our city doesn’t have a tax base. Cars are a big expense and we don’t have the money. Thanks to LEST, all of our guns, equipment, and cars are up to date.”
The Jasper Police Department ultimately received $5,916 of its $50,998 grant application. The money will go toward paying for technology licenses and fees to maintain computers and internet connectivity in patrol cars.
Sarcoxie will receive the full $35,046 he requested for the purchase and equipment of a new vehicle.
Other grants approved Tuesday:
—Carthage: $44,073 for seven Toughbook computers and software.
—Carl Junction: $31,132 for upgraded body and vehicle cameras.
—Carterville: $30,604 for upgraded records management software.
—City of Webb: $29,429 in vehicle equipment.
—Duquesne: $20,325.
—Oronogo: $17,506.
—Jasper County Juvenile Services: $15,715.
—Duenweg: $14,543.
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