Sandwich cop back after deployment

SANDWICH -- Patrolman Todd Russell is back on the job after a year of serving in Afghanistan.

Police Chief Rick Olson said Russell has returned to the Sandwich force after completing his deployment to Afghanistan with the Illinois National Guard.

Olson said with Russell's return, the Police Department is nearly up to full staff.

The department is short one person, who is off on medical disability and is expected to be back shortly, Olson said.

Russell has 134 unused hours of vacation. The Sandwich City Council voted to allow him to use 60 hours, to save 40 hours and to give him payout for 34 hours.

In other action, the council voted to pay the premium early for Risk Management Insurance from the Illinois Municipal League. By paying early, the premium was only $138,540.

Finance Committee Chairman Harold Dannewitz said his committee will meet two times each month in an effort to stop late payment of bills.

Dannewitz said he is asking department heads to bring in purchase orders as quickly as possible, so bill payments can be made twice a month to avoid late charges and extra time spent on billing questions.