Bland alderman on Nov. 9 promoted appointed Marshal Dwayne Goodridge to a full-time police officer at his request, which gives him the availability to participate on the city’s insurance policy.

“I’m at 20 hours a week and would like to increase that to 30 hours a week,” Goodridge began at the meeting. “I am only here 20 hours, two days a week, currently.”

Goodridge has worked consistently with the city since 2019 when he was hired as a patrolman in the place of former marshal Patrick Boatman who had submitted an early resignation.

“I would be interested to increase it to 30 hours a week, then be full-time and eligible for insurance,” Goodridge continued.

Since he was hired on as a patrolman and promoted to marshal, Goodridge has patrolled the town, written tickets for both traffic and nuisance violations, and keeps his reports on time and updated.

He has also hired three reserve officers and found two more officers who would work for free eight hours a month to keep their police commissions active through the city of Bland.

“We have written a total of 51 tickets for court next Monday,” Goodridge reported that evening. “We are doing well and received over $2,000 from tickets to this point, not counting those waiting for court.”

Alderman Diana Mayfield said the city requires an employee to work 32 hours to be full-time.

“If he goes full-time, we have to offer him what everyone else has,” City Clerk Carrie Krupp said.

Alderman Mark Ferran added the annual increased pay and insurance, “it’s an extra $37,000 a year. Can we afford that?”

Alderman Ned Steiner, appointed by Mayor Lee Medlock and sworn in at the beginning of the meeting, asked his fellow aldermen if they could afford not to offer Goodridge full-time and insurance.

“We have a street nicknamed ‘Meth Avenue,’” Steiner said. “We have people who have been kicked out from other towns coming to Bland to move into these dilapidated buildings. This is not the Bland I grew up in. It’s got to stop.”

“Or it’s going to take over,” Medlock added. “Our hands was tied before when we had an elected marshal. Now it’s on us.”

Krupp noted that all of Goodridge’s reports were up-to-date and in order.

“If he is doing his job, it’s gonna get cleaned up,” Steiner added. “We have an organization going around, cleaning up these buildings. We’ve got to help them out all we can to keep from tearing down what they are building up. If he is doing his job, his revenue will increase and pay for his hours.”

Steiner made the motion to increase Goodridge’s employment to 32 hours a week and give him insurance under their current insurance policy. The board approved the motion with a 4-0 vote.