By KIP CHEEK

Staff writer

MENDOTA – The Mendota Police Department welcomed two new officers to its team at the March 21 meeting of the Mendota City Council.

Brian Ehlert and Austin O’Sadnick took the oath of office from Dave McNally, chairman of the Police & Fire Commission.

Ehlert is originally from the Aurora area. He has served with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department and also for a city police department in the state of Ohio. He has been a part-time officer with the Mendota department and will now serve in a full-time capacity. Ehlert has already graduated from the police academy and will be on the road patrolling on his own in 45 to 60 days.

O’Sadnick is a Mendota native, having graduated from Mendota High School in 2013. He is also a graduate of IVCC. O’Sadnick will begin at the police academy in Glen Ellyn on March 28.

Alderman Kyle Kim presented a pair of ordinances that the council approved.

The council amended Chapter 29 Section 2 of the Municipal Code regarding fees for non-emergency medical assistance. If the Mendota Fire Department responds to a call for assistance at an assisted living, skilled nursing or similar institutional residence facility to provide non-emergency assistance for a person who does not require any emergency medical services but only needs assistance such as the lifting of a patient, the following charges will apply: first assistance call - no charge; second assistance call - $150; third and each subsequent call - $300.

The council amended Chapter 22 Section 2 of the Municipal Code regarding fees for fire false alarms. Any person, firm or corporation having a fire alarm or fire sensor shall be charged a fee of $250 for the second false alarm and a fee of $500 for each subsequent false alarm of fire responded to by the Mendota Fire Department during any 12-month period. If the possessor of the fire alarm or fire sensor establishes to the satisfaction of the Mendota City Council a reasonable explanation for why the fee should not be imposed, the council shall have the authority to waive the fee.

The next regular meeting of the Mendota City Council will be Monday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m.