Parkville has a new police chief after the board of aldermen voted to hire Kevin Chrisman on Tuesday night. The 53-year-old retired Kansas City Police Department major is a Northland resident and took over the position effective Wednesday, Jan. 7. Bill Hudson, former chief, retired at Parkville at the end of December. Chrisman retired from the KCPD in December of 2006 as a major. He had worked for KCPD for 34 years, beginning as a civilian at the age of 17 and became an officer at age 21.
The hot topic of the night was the city swimming pool and possible changes in services to slow the amount of money the Platte City Parks Department loses every year by operating the pool, located a block north of City Hall. A number of parents showed up at the board of aldermen meeting to express their concerns over rumors the parks board would eliminate the swimming lessons program.
Some changes have hit the City of Parkville, with staff reductions. Two employees were let go from the city at the end of 2008. Loretta Stevens, city collector, and Steve Taylor, line locator/code inspector, had their last day of employment with the city on Dec. 31. Sean Ackerson, assistant city administrator, said the collector position will be filled “in some capacity.” the line locator/code inspector position was removed along with several unfilled positions when the budget was recently approved.