DRUG TASK FORCE PROPOSED IN CANTON

Interim Police Chief Wants City To Work Independent Of State Police

The city's interim police chief, Bill Doster, told council members
this week he would like to see Canton adopt its own drug-enforcement
task force.

"We have a significant drug problem with crack cocaine in Canton,"
Doster told council members during Tuesday's committee meeting.

Doster proposed hiring two additional officers to be trained for drug
enforcement, which would allow city police to serve their own search
warrants. Canton police now rely on Illinois State Police to issue
warrants, which can take hours to receive, Doster said.

With a city drug task force, money confiscated from a drug raid would
stay in Canton instead of going to the state police as it does now,
Doster said.

Doster also said the 14 officers are not trained for emergency
situations such as a hostage crisis, and he would like to set up an
emergency training program in August.

In an unrelated police matter, the council discussed the city's
search for a new police chief to replace retired Police Chief Don
Edwards, who worked for the department since 1975. The search will be
narrowed to six candidates Monday.

In other business, city engineer Keith Plavek of Maurer and Stutz
Inc. in Canton advised the Council of at least five problem areas
noted during a study last month of a 6,000-foot section of the city's
sewer system.

Plavek said a camera was used in the study, and that collapsed pipes,
water main breaks and clogged areas are just some of the problems
with the city's sewer system. The problem areas combined with rising
storm water have caused sewage water to seep into the city's streets.

"We need to know the condition of the sewers," Plavek said. "It's an
area easily ignored ... We want to eliminate the (combined sewer overflow)."

Plavek estimates it would cost $140,000 to study an additional 70,000
feet of the sewage system under the Kilroy Lift Station near Canton Lake.

The council will take a formal vote July 5 on whether to allocate
$100,000 for further studies.

"We're reactive instead of proactive (with the sewage system),"
Councilman Joe Reed said. "What amount is put (toward it) is what
needs to be decided."

At that meeting, Plavek will present a report on separating the storm
runoffs from the sewer runoffs.

The council also discussed the draft of a new vicious dog ordinance.
If passed, the ordinance would allow police officers to write
citations for dogs considered vicious and may prohibit pit bull
breeds in the city. A final draft will be drawn up in the next weeks.

Councilman Eric Schenck proposed the ordinance after his dog was
recently attacked by another dog.