Traffic cameras strategically placed at the north, south, east and west areas of Hennessey would make the town safer and cut down on speeders.

That’s what Hennessey’s Board of Trustees was told by newest member David Jones during “council person reports” at its Thursday night meeting.

Jones, who was seated on the town board last month, said automated cameras could send speeding tickets to drivers and free up officers for other work, such as checking businesses.

Trustee Richard Simunek said he’d received an automated ticket in the mail for running a red light in another town.

“I was glad I got it,” he said. “I didn’t know I’d done it, but it has made me more aware now.”

Camera costs weren’t discussed, but Jones did say the town could contract that service.

He said the cameras wouldn’t have stopped last month’s break-in at Heritage II Pharmacy, or four vehicle break-ins about the same time in February, “but we might have been able to catch them.”

Another example he mentioned was the unsolved September 2019 robbery at the Sinclair Main Street Truck Stop on State Highway 51/U.S. Highway 81.

Jones said they also need to put cameras on Walnut Street “to catch the 16-year-olds” leaving the high school parking areas too fast.

On the plus side, Jones said after he’d had security cameras installed “I learned the police patrol our neighborhoods a lot more than I thought.”

Condition of vehicles

“I can’t vote for new vehicles when I see how our vehicles are treated,” Jones said.

That comment came after the other three trustees had voted to purchase a new truck for the water department and Jones cast the only dissenting vote.

He noted that during the board’s infrastructure meeting in February that every department had a new vehicle on their need list because their trucks were in bad shape.

“We had prior management in those departments,” said Tillman.

Jones said he was aware of that.

He said drivers should check their gauges every day, keep the vehicle clean and if there is a dent, or other repairs, get them fixed.

They also shouldn’t park so close to their work areas because that can cause dings in the paint, he added.

Tillman said many of the vehicles are old, or were in bad shape when the town bought them.

She said a 2009 Chevrolet “was rusted out” when it was purchased “by previous management.”

Jones said when employees are driving around, they are representing the town and should have “good attitudes, appearances, and not be smoking in the trucks.”

“If you see someone smoking in their truck you let me know,” said Tillman because it’s her job to handle all personnel matters.

Jones said he saw someone that afternoon.

Rodeo grounds upkeep

Since he was elected, Jones said he’d heard concerns from citizens.

That includes one from those who stage the spring and fall rodeos at the town’s rodeo grounds, who told Jones that the town only mowed the grounds twice a year.

“Apparently the weeds get stronger the longer they are there, and it impacts the horses,” he said, then asked for the town to mow it three times a year.

Tillman said it’s her job and she’d take care of it. She also told Jones he could always come by town hall and talk to her about problems, or questions.

At the April meeting

In addition to Trustees Simunek, Vogt and Jones at the 6 p.m. meeting was Harold Shaw.

Absent was Mayor Bert Gritz.

Other elected officials at the meeting were Town Clerk Kati Walters, who also serves as minutes clerk, and Town Treasurer Shelley Burch, who is also a clerk at Town Hall.

In addition to Tillman, another staffer there was Library Director Lyndsey Kopsa.

There were no visitors in the audience other than media.