Geneva City Council agreed to modify residency requirements for the Police Chief and Fire Chief positions. The councilors decided at a special meeting last Wednesday that the residency requirement could negatively impact the city’s search for qualified candidates, given the shrinking pool of eligible candidates.
Councilors pointed out that the area’s limited housing opportunities and anti-police sentiment might discourage some candidates from moving to Geneva.
They also noted that other regions in the state do not require their police chiefs to live in the city, and pointed out that residency doesn’t necessarily measure a level of commitment.
City Manager Amie Hendrix revealed that the required residency varies by municipality, with some having no requirements and others having a radius limit of 15-60 miles, or allowing residing in contiguous counties. She added that some have changes in benefits, such as a reduction in vacation days if they live outside the municipality.
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