After approving to move forward with a $400,000 bond last week, the City Council has changed course on how to fund improvements to the Stuart Police Department.

After Mayor Dick Cook had to leave the special council meeting early Wednesday evening, Mayor Pro-Tem Bryan Belden said he thought issuing a bond was a “dumb” way to fund increasing the police’s staff and wages, which is why he voted against pursuing the bond. Belden explained that if they use a $40,000 surplus from the City’s new valuation, and take $50,000 from reserves depending on if they receive a federal grant to fund a new officer, they wouldn’t need to raise taxes. “What I’m proposing is we use reserves a little bit if we need to, shift the valuation that came to us this year and discontinue the pursuit of the bond issue. At which time if we get the COPS grant, that will supplement this for a couple years until this new valuation comes in and then there’s no tax increase. That’s what I’m looking at, I’m looking at our tax relative to other communities and our financial advisor has never done a bond issue for salaries before so this is a first.”

Belden’s proposal was approved on a 3-2 vote. Council Member Kristina Renslow stated that last night’s decision will not change what they agreed to with Chief Dave Reha over salaries, staffing, and vehicle purchases. The Council also approved Reha’s recommendation to hire Bagley resident Daniel Irving as their third full-time officer. Reha said Irving has agreed to move to Stuart, and if he accepts the position, he should receive academy certification this May. Reha added he is currently looking to hire the fourth part-time position.