The Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety met Tuesday and:

• Approved the request to clear part of the walkway along St. Charles Street on the morning of April 17 for the Wildcat Runaway 5k run and walk. The race, which is a fundraiser for the Jasper High School cross country team, will begin at 9 a.m. and will start and end at the high school, using the St. Charles path in between.

• Heard from Jasper Community Arts Director Kyle Rupert that both community arts and the Jasper Public Library are almost ready to open. The Thyen-Clark Cultural Center tentatively plans to open Jan. 19, but Rupert and Library Director Christine Golden may not know for sure until the day before opening. Virtual art exhibit tours are available at thyenclarkculturalcenter.com.

• Heard from Police Chief Nathan Schmitt that there were only 20 arrests in December, which was the lowest for the year and was unexpectedly low for a month that usually has a peak number of arrests. Schmitt said he suspects it is at least partially due to an increased number of people staying home during the pandemic.

• Approved the purchase of a heating unit for the Jasper Police Department. The unit was purchased in an emergency situation in December for $6,525.

• Granted the police department permission to seek bids for three new police vehicles in 2021.

• Granted the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department permission to start the process to order a new fire engine.

• Approved an annual contract between the City of Jasper and the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.

• Accepted Chamber Executive Director Nancy Eckerle’s conflict of interest statement.