LINN — Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham told aldermen that his department was enjoying a good working relationship with the Linn Police Department.

“We are very happy with the way we are working hand-in-hand,” Bonham said. “The Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force is continuing its work here, and they have been pretty successful.”

Bonham noted that he has met with the United States District Attorney, noting that any drug arrests involving a firearm will be tried in federal court. “It’s a big difference,’ Bonham said, adding that if convicted of a felony, prisoners serve 80% of their sentences versus a much lower percentage of the sentences being served under state laws.

* Bonham discussed the importance of the upcoming vote on Amendment 8.

“Currently, lawmakers can change the sheriff’s position with a stroke of the pen,” Bonham said. “This would keep the position of sheriff intact, and there would be a process of removal. It would give due process for the sheriff, if needed.”

* City Attorney Zacharias noted that the governor had signed recent executive orders about Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), made by Flock Safety.

“Everyone thinks that Flock is a super spy network,” Ford said.

“Mostly, it has to do with the high-profile abuse of the system we are seeing,” Zacharias said.

“There absolutely have been some abuses, but on the other side, it has helped law enforcement,” Ford said.

He reported that he had been able to use the ALPR system of cameras to locate a runaway juvenile within hours of her reported disappearance. “Like anything that can reach out and grab your information, people are threatened by it, and I get that, but then again, I see how much good it does,” said Ford.

Zacharias noted that the biggest concern was who had access to the information.

“The problem is these guys are tracking their ex-girlfriends, and an incident is hitting the news almost every week,” Ford said. “I understand people’s concerns.”

* Police Chief Sam Ford reported a rash of juveniles running through the streets at night.

“They are pulling on car doors and grabbing anything they can,” Ford said. “We had this problem last summer, too. They are running in groups of six to eight kids. We pretty much know who they are, but we have to catch them in the act. It’s a tough battle.

“There is nothing in this town for the kids to do,” he continued. “They are going to get into trouble.”

Ford said that last month, the police department arrested a teenage driver for a DWI.

Ford noted that he has information that a group is bringing narcotics and firearms into the city from St. Louis and distributing them to minors.

“I have the Drug Task Force and the Jefferson City Police Department looking into it,” Ford said.

Troesser noted that the city is drafting an ordinance that will set a curfew for teenagers.

“We have a pattern of criminal activity directly attributed to this group of kids,” Ford said. “I don’t want to be the police chief when something really bad happens.”

Ford noted that there are reports that the problems have spread to the high school as well.

“We have some kids that need some counseling, whether by me or a juvenile officer,” Ford said. “It has gotten out of hand.”

Ford reported that the city has received a Blue Shield Grant for the maximum amount of $29,000, which may be used to purchase specific things. He noted that none of the money can be used for weapons, bulletproof vests, or anything of a paramilitary nature.