SOUTH FORK- Members of the South Fork Town Board (SFTB met on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for their monthly meeting to discuss several resolutions and work through regular business. At the beginning of the meeting while approving the agenda, Mayor Pro Tem Tyler Schmidt announced the removal of the South Fork Traffic Code resolution which would be deferred to another meeting once further details could be figured out.

Town Manager Dan Hicks gave a brief report on town finances which are in better shape than previously expected due to COVID related expenses. The town, like several other communities in the Valley are trying to work through COVID Relief Funding which is supposed to be issued through the state. Hicks stated that some other state funding was down from previous years by about $90,000.

Next, new Chief of Police Hank Weber gave his report stating that he was working on compiling a better report for the town board which he will have for future meetings. “I can give you an idea what we’re working on right now, trying to re-brain the police department for lack of a better term. We are redoing the patch design and I tried to incorporate the South Fork Logo,” stated Weber.

Weber has also been working with Hicks to get the local patrol cars marked properly so that citizens can recognize them when they are out on the road. “We agreed on a design and kept the South Fork logo because I really like that logo. This is really where we are at today.”

Weber explained that the department is also getting new uniforms stating that he wanted to veer away from traditional uniforms and go with something that would make officers stand out but also make them approachable for the public. “What I did was choose a spruce green shirt which goes with the new patch and officers are required to wear all the things that go on their uniform. I think you guys will be really happy with how everything will turn out.”

The town also finalized the sale of land that was donated to them earlier this year. Over the last several weeks town staff have collected bids for the piece of property and after choosing the highest bidder, found out that the individual had to back out of the deal due to illness. The board approved the sale of the land to go to the next highest bidder for the amount of $23,023.00. All of the funding from the sale will go toward the Town Park Project.