BNI News Service

MARION &045; There were two completely different issues concerning the Marion Police Department Monday at the City Council meeting.

First up was the discussion of purchasing used vehicles for Marion officers.

After much discussion, Mayor Anthony Long, Spencer Hogue Jr. and Brandon S. Taylor voted yes, but James Hollis, Willie Jackson and Corin Harrison Jr. voted no.

That lead to a tied vote. The agenda item will be discussed again at the next meeting.

The next MPD concern is that Chief Tony Buford is being called by the National Guard for deployment, so the city will need someone to temporarily replace him.

An executive session was called to discuss the matter after a brief reminder of what could and couldn’t be discussed in an executive session and mumbled voices could be heard through the chamber walls.

Once the council members returned 40 minutes later, they discussed payment options for Buford while he is on leave.

The motion was placed and Buford was present to hear the final decision.

The council agreed to pay the difference in salary and Buford can use some of his vacation time before he is actually deployed Oct. 21 if he chooses to. The council said the rest will be saved and rollover once he returns.

Councilmen agreed to appoint Lt. Jack Nelson acting chief until Buford returns.

Mattie Tibbs was reappointed as the citizen for the Marion Housing Authority Board and the council authorized permission to collect bids for the city’s gas purchase.

The council also named a street off Highway 5 Forest Hill Road.

The next Marion City Council meeting is Monday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.