Police Department looking into firing range, radio repeater

The city of Elyria is looking to assist the Elyria Police Department to purchase a new radio repeater and practice firing range.

What originally was a request to purchase two unmarked police vehicles through state purchasing, was adjusted for equipment that was needed more, according to Elyria police Chief Duane Whitely.

City Council’s Finance Committee voted May 29 in favor of providing each necessity through the Police Levy Fund, Policy Levy Department and the city’s Capital Outlay account.

The request will use the same amount of funds that would’ve purchased the two vehicles.

Funds toward the practice range and radio repeater will cost about $70,000.

Whitely said the radio repeater has a price tag of $50,000 while the range will begin at $20,000.

The two requests will be a large savings, according to Whitely and Safety Service Director Mary Siwierka.

The need to add another radio repeater will provide better coverage for the Police Department, Whitely said.

Police officials are looking for an area in the southeast part of town, he said.

“(The Police Department) needs a radio signal over there,” the chief said. “All calls will be sent to our police station at (a better rate) and the additional land in the southeast part of town will keep the signal strong.”

Siwierka said there also is a need for the Police Department to have its own firing range nearby.

Elyria officers travel to a range in Oberlin to practice, she said.

The need to stay in good physical shape and have an area to practice is crucial, Siwierka said.

Whitely said a nearby range can save time and costs on overtime.

When officers train twice a year at the range, at least a sixth of them are taken out of service while other officers cover for them, he said.

“If (the Police Department) can take them off the shift for an hour to train, (it) will be saving on overtime costs,” Whitely said.

Siwierka said the city is looking at using land behind the current Central Maintenance Garage, 851 Garden St., for the firing range.

“The area is good for them and they will be right there in Elyria if they receive any calls,” she said.

Whitely said the funds for the range will be set aside to help, but it will take some time for completion.

The radio repeaters and the firing range will be a good use for the levy funds, he said. In other news: Mayor Holly Brinda announced May 29, that John Schneider, Elyria’s assistant city engineer, and Kathryn McKillips, project engineer, received promotions.

Schneider now is the city’s engineer, and McKillips is the assistant engineer.

Brinda said Tim Ujvari, the former city engineer, is undergoing a surgery and the city needs the two other engineers in place.

Siwierka and other Council members wished Ujvari a speedy recovery.