Mansfield City Council honored retired police Lieutenant Michael Higgens with a proclamation and standing ovation at their meeting Tuesday night. Also on the agenda were upcoming events, proposed changes to legislation pertaining to Pawn and Resale shops, and the Safe Routes to School program.
Higgens retired two weeks ago and was honored at Tuesday’s council meeting for his twenty-five years of service. During his tenure he served the department in many capacities including community services, traffic, community policing, and Safety Town. He is particularly respected for his skills as the department’s accident reconstructionist, a skill so greatly missed that his colleagues have been contacting him for expertise since his retirement.
“I’m not only losing a go-to person I depend on every day, I’m losing a dear friend and as Lori said, he’s a great man. He’s a great father, he’s a great husband and you know, obviously a great police officer,” said Deputy Police Chief Tobie Smith.
“I appreciated the opportunity to work here and I had a great time,” said Higgens.
Councilman Mike Hill met Higgens shortly after he was first elected to council and he did a ride along with the officer at that time. “You’re one of the first officers I rode with and you have just left an impression on my heart and with me ever since,” said Hill.
In legislation, bill 14-038 was introduced during caucus. This bill, if passed, will modernize the police department’s interaction and processes with pawn shops and add resale shops to the program that is designed to better follow up on stolen items that might become merchandise in these stores.
A key provision of this modernization will be the addition of a software subscription that will speed up and increase efficiency in the cataloging process as well as allow more streamlined interaction with other law enforcement agencies across the country.
Council voted to move forward with some street improvements planned within the department budget. Streets that have not been “striped” since 2010 will be repainted.
Bill 14-036 involves the implementation of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Safe Routes to School program. The program is entirely funded through ODOT. Six local schools will have sidewalk repairs and installations, handicapped accessibility, new signage, and a new high tech crossing sign system called Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. These beacons are a push button signpost with flashing lights that increase safety for pedestrians. The costs will be around $400,000.
The Great American Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) is coming to Mansfield in June. Lee Tassif, President of the Mansfield and Richland County Convention and Vistors Bureau, introduced Julie Van Winkel from GOBA who shared information about the event with council.
GOBA is a week long bicycle tour that will begin and end in Mansfield this June. Participants will ride about 45-60 miles per day and sleep in primitive campsites. Van Winkel said, “We are so thrilled to be coming back to Mansfield.” The tour last came to Mansfield in 1996.
