photo by Gail Perry
Regular city business was overshadowed at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night by citizens protesting recent police actions. Outside city hall people holding signs lined the sidewalk and, in the time set aside for residents of the city to speak, the ones that did expressed disapproval of the police procedures surrounding a traffic stop that ended in an alleged beating.
On April 13, Candido Medina Resendiz was pulled over for intoxication.
The encounter ended in Officer Mark Kaylor allegedly punching Resendiz in the face multiple times while other officers held him down and tazed him. An internal affairs investigation cleared Kaylor of any wrong doing. This spurred a lawsuit against the Red Bank Police Department for the use of excessive force.
The first speaker said that somebody needs to get control of the police department and, if Chief Tim Cristol does not have the leadership skills to do that, he needs to go. He ended by saying, “Crime prevails when good men stand by and do nothing.”
Another city resident requested accountability from the police department, saying Officer Kaylor has not been held responsible for his actions. She asked that charges be brought against him. She also said she believed that body cameras could have clarified what happened.
A third person said she believed that the Red Bank Police are above-board, but thinks that they are lacking the technology that they need. She said had IPads been in police cars and if they had body cameras this incident would have been documented. It would have been beneficial to the city by saving money spent on lawsuits. She ended by telling Mayor John Roberts, “You’ve been a wonderful mayor and I hope to see you back in this seat.”
In the city manager’s report, Randall Smith said that paving of Dayton Boulevard is progressing. The latest hold-up is that the railroad has to be given notice of the work 30 days prior to starting. He said because of this, he hoped the project would be completed before cold weather stops paving from being done.
Roof replacement of city hall is underway. Most work will be done on weekends so city employees will not be disturbed. Additional space that is needed in the building will be made by enclosing the front porch with glass. The accepted bid for this construction is $57,865.
Mayor Roberts reported that the city is working in conjunction with the county to pave what is now a gravel-filled area at the ball fields. Hamilton County Commissioners Joe Graham and Jim Fields are helping to obtain funding from the county to make this area wheelchair accessible.
Vice Mayor Floy Pierce announced that Erlanger Hospital will be expanding in Red Bank. She then told the room full of people that “I stand strong for all the citizens of Red Bank.” She said it had been a privilege to serve as a commissioner for three terms and that she wished each candidate the best, even though her views are different.
She then asked the people in the community to stop the slander, referring to the many recent comments in the news media and on Facebook. She said, “I do have a heart and have feelings and it’s been awful, what’s been written about me.”
Approval was given from the commissioners to update the animal control ordinances on first reading.
Also, a unanimous vote was taken to bring Red Bank’s court fees and costs in line with other cities in Hamilton County.
The next meeting of the Red Bank Commission that was scheduled for Nov. 4 has been canceled because it falls on the election day.
photo by Gail Perry