In 2007, the city of Slater reached 17 out of 30 goals it had set for the year.

"I think we did a really good job last year," said Mayor Stephen Allegri. The council set 27 goals for 2008, including six goals that were not met last year. Seven of the goals included on the list were met last year, but the council has decided to expand on them.

The top 10 goals on the list include to continue cleaning up the town by demolishing houses, continue with the street program, attract industry and employment opportunities, build a lighted walking trail, fill empty buildings by Dollar General, have the 911 center built in the town, fill the empty Sullivan building, make improvements at water plant, make improvements at sewer plant and build at least one spec house.

In other business, according to a report submitted to Missouri Attorney General, Slater Police Department made a total of 645 traffic stops last year. The reasons for stops included 567 moving violations, 175 equipment violations, 42 license violations and 23 investigative reasons.

"Every stop has to be recorded," Allegri said.

Four hundred forty-four warnings were given and 194 citations were written. Of the 567 moving violations, 265 were for speeding, 35 for lane violation, three for following to close, 29 for fail to signal and 252 for other reasons.

Allegri said that some people have approached him and said that teenagers are getting picked on by police officers.

"If anyone is getting picked on its senior citizens," Allegri said with a laugh. The statistics show the age of drivers stopped are: 60 stops for under the age of 18; 251 stops for 18-29 year olds; 111 stops for 30-39 year olds; and 223 stops for 40 and over.

Allegri said some people are saying the department has been targeting groups by race. Statistics shows that of the stops 570 were white, 60 were black and 13 were Hispanic.

The department arrested 38 drivers last year because of outstanding warrants, drug violations, offensive against person, traffic violations and driving while intoxicated.

Allegri said most of the stops are for speeding, "That is one of the things we want to stress is to slow down."

Councilman Rex Cantlin asked, "Are we being effective with less than two stops a day?"

"I think we are because we are one of the safest places in Saline County because we have a low crime rate," Allegri said.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net