Greetings, this week I would like to offer some information and facts concerning Fayetteville’s police and fire services.

My priorities have been and will remain concentrated on providing the best and most cost effective services in the metro area. The major emphasis will remain on public safety. It will include funding the capital equipment and necessary personnel to meet the needs of the community.

Currently over 60% of the city’s budget is spent on fire and police services. This emphasis allows us to respond to the needs of the community rapidly when the call comes in and seconds count.

Our police department has an authorized strength of just under 50 people. The majority of personnel are “sworn” officers that are actively and professionally performing their duties to protect and serve the citizens of Fayetteville.

The Fire Department employs approximately 27 people. Of this number only three positions are administrative in nature while the remainder is involved in protecting the lives and property of our citizens.

We continue to review and analyze the personnel, equipment and operating structure of both departments so that we can deliver the best, most cost effective service. Examples of the analysis and planning are the just completed Police and Municipal Court facility that will serve the city’s needs for the next 20 years, the scheduled replacement of police patrol vehicles to insure they are available and are safe to operate and the recent replacement of two older fire trucks with new and more efficient models.

In addition, we have a long-range personnel plan that addresses the needs of the fire and police departments over the next five years.

I would also like take the opportunity to address an issue my opponent has surfaced. He indicated he favors allowing businesses more and larger signage than Fayetteville’s current ordinance. He suggested using the southside Chick-Fil-A sign as a model. In fact, Chick-Fil-A requested and was granted less signage than allowed by the ordinance.

We constantly review our sign ordinance to insure it is fair and meets the needs of the entire community and we do this with the participation of both homeowners and business owners.

In conclusion, I feel that Fayetteville is a superior place to live, raise our children and operate our businesses and I need your help and your vote on Nov. 8 to continue making progress on the issues you care about.

Al Hovey-King, councilman

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