Buchanan police sergeant adds public works supervisor to role

BUCHANAN — Bill Marx isn’t the only one at the City of Buchanan playing a dual role anymore.

Marx, city manager and police chief, said Sergeant J.T. Adkerson, of the police department, will now take on the role of public works supervisor. He will also maintain his status on the police department, although his primary focus will be on public works issues, such as water distribution, street repair and maintenance of parks and facilities.

The consolidated role is the result of revenue-sharing cuts from the state, Marx said.

“The cut in revenue sharing was $80,000 that hit our general fund,” he said.

Marx said Adkerson and himself still check in at the police department regularly but are no longer involved with day-to-day assignments or patrolling.

Adkerson has been with the police department for more than 18 years, including time in an administrative role.

“He has brought skills from the police administration into this area,” Marx said.

Marx said Adkerson is one of the top investigators in the department and in the area.

“I don’t want to lose those capabilities on the police department,” Marx said. “So if something happened and we needed a crime to be solved, he’s the one I would assign to it to make it happen.”

The police department has nine officers, including Marx and Adkerson, who are only “loosely involved” with day-to-day operations, according to Marx.

“In my mind, the city is getting two for one with me and J.T.,” Marx said.

The move also qualifies as a consolidation of services that will help the city comply with state standards to receive its share of revenue sharing next year.

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