Public Safety Committee

City of Sidney, MT Public Safety Committee Meeting January 27, 2026 4:30 PM 115 2nd Street SE |Sidney, MT 59270 Committee meetings are open to the public attending in person. If the public does not wish to participate in person, they are also invited to participate via a Zoom meeting or via phone: Meeting ID: 713 080 5898 Passcode: 4332809 Call: 1-346-248-7799 1. Call to Order The Public Safety Meeting was called to order at 4:30pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was stated by all present. 3. Committee Members Present Buxbaum, Kauffman, DiFonzo (for Rasmussen) and Creek. 4. Correction or Approval of Minutes 5. Visitors 6. Monthly Reports a. State of the Department-Sidney Police Department Chief Kraft gave his State of the Department presentation. After the presentation Alderman DiFonzo asked if 13 positions is due to the Drug Task Force Officer position and that is why he is 3 positions down and Chief Kraft stated his department has 12 positions plus the TFO, so he is currently down 3 patrol officers. Alderman DiFonzo asked why parking ticket information was not presented and asked if it is the duty of the patrol officer or the compliance officer. Chief Kraft stated he sent a memo out a couple months ago instructing the officers to familiarize themselves with the rules and enforcing of parking violations. Alderman DiFonzo asked if it is a court issue as to why they are not issued and Chief Kraft stated generally if they are disputed in court they are dismissed. Alderwoman Buxbaum asked what succession would look like for the Captains who have over 20 years of experience and Chief Kraft stated Norby and Gomke have over 9 years of experience and have accumulated expertise that could go into the advisory roles should retirements happen. She Public Safety Committee Meeting January 27, 2026 Page 1 of 3  further asked if the hiring process is mandated and Chief Kraft stated that parts such as the oral board interview or the psych evaluation are, but the rest is a process within the SPD that is consistent around the state. 7. New Business a. Patrol Rifle Purchase Chief Kraft asked the Public Safety Committee for the consideration of the use of his vacancy payroll savings for the purchase of patrol rifles. He stated there is 14 AR15 platform rifles that are anywhere from 12-20 years old that he would like to purchase out of the savings from having the 3 open positions in the first half of the fiscal year and reviewed his current budget. He stated this is an opportunity to get this capital purchase of approximately $50,000 without the trade values from the rifles, which could be between $5-$8,000. Alderman DiFonzo asked why this could not be purchased out of the CIP fund and Chief Kraft stated there is not enough funding available after the budgeted expenditures for the range. Alderman DiFonzo stated he does not feel it should be the practice of the City to purchase equipment out of vacancy savings and worried that this could affect the budget moving forward should the positions be filled. Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated this $50,000 would be under the amount that would have been expended in the general fund on the employees in July-December if those positions were filled and would not affect the filling of them moving forward. Mrs. Creek asked if these could be purchased in a tiered way as to help not only now but when they need to be replaced so the cost is not incurred all at once and Chief Kraft stated they could be looked into but all are currently due. Alderwoman Buxbaum asked if there is a replacement schedule and Chief Kraft stated only for the patrol cars. Alderman DiFonzo stated he is agreeable to allowing this as a one time allowance of use of vacancy savings, stating that vacancy savings should not be spent routinely. Motion was made to recommend approval. Motion made by DiFonzo, Seconded by Kauffman. Voting Yea: Kauffman, Buxbaum, DiFonzo b. Police (4020 and 4021) and Fire (4040) CIP Accounts-Policies and Goals Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin asked that the Public Safety Committee review the provided policies and goals to discuss further at the next meeting. c. Nuisance Code Update Clerk/Treasurer Chamberlin stated the Nuisance Committee has tabled the update for further review until the February meeting, after which they will send it to the Public Safety Committee for review and recommendation to the City Council. 8. Unfinished Business Public Safety Committee Meeting January 27, 2026 Page 2 of 3  Nothing. 9. Comments and Questions from the Committee Nothing. 10. Adjournment at 5:43pm. Public Safety Committee Meeting January 27, 2026 Page 3 of 3