City of Lott police safe for now

The City of Lott was set to decide on an official date to disband its police department during a meeting on July 18, but instead will revise its budget and look to keep its officers.

During the back-and-forth of the meeting several residents were in attendance in support of current Police Chief Michael Hamilton and the department.

The city council voted the week prior to get rid of its police department, with the council saying there was not enough money in the budget to keep its chief and two staff members.

On Monday night the council decided to go over the budget again. During that council members noted it was not just the police running a deficit, but also its public works department.

Monday’s meeting was, in part, a way to get citizen input on what could be done to revise the budget and possibly save the police department.

The council was expected to hold budget talks on July 22 and again during a meeting on Aug. 8.