Robert K. Byrd, a little more than one month into his new job as Winfield’s new town marshal, is looking forward to the future including a move into a newly remodeled police department.
“The first month has been busy and fast-paced and we’ve done a deep dive into the neighborhoods to do a lot of listening and learning,” Byrd said.
Byrd, a Chesterton resident, was sworn in as Winfield’s new town marshal at the April 22 Town Council meeting and started his work immediately afterward.
In addition to his new position as town marshal, Byrd will also be overseeing the move into a new police department.
The present police department, at 10645 Randolph St. in the Winfield Municipal Complex, will be relocated to 10688 Randolph St., in the former People’s Bank.
“Hopefully we will be making the final move by sometime next week,” he said.
He said plans are to hold an official opening day event which residents would be invited to attend.
During his update at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Byrd complimented his department of eight, not including himself, calling them “dedicated officers who genuinely care about Winfield.”
Plans also include changing the status of the police department from marshal-based to metropolitan-based, he said.
Byrd, whose salary was prorated starting from April 22, will receive $95,000 this year; $96,900 in 2026; $98,38 in 2027 and $100,814 in 2028, according to an agreement unanimously approved by the Town Council.
Byrd is a 50-year law enforcement professional who began his career as a military police officer in the U.S. Army.
He replaced former Town Marshal Dan Ball who resigned in late January.
Ball was sworn in as Winfield’s first town marshal on Aug. 26, 2014, and was instrumental in starting up the new police department a month later.
Ball was placed on paid administrative leave, then later resigned, following a Jan. 10 meeting with two members of the town council — Councilman Zack Beaver, R-at-large, and Councilman Tim Clayton, R-at-large.
In other business, the Town Council on Tuesday opened two bids received for its 2025 Community Crossings Match Grant Road Project.
The bids included a total of $1.8 million from Rieth-Riley and $1.7 million from Milestone Contractors.
The bids were taken under advisement but sent to both the engineering and legal departments for review.
The Town Council agreed to allow Town Council President Zack Beaver to sign off on the lowest, responsible bid after review given the warm weather timeline.
Roads that are part of the road maintenance project are: 104th Avenue, from Pike Street to Randolph Street; 106th Avenue, from Newton Avenue to Pike Street; 103rd Avenue, from Nicklaus Street to where it dead ends; 105th Avenue, from Benton Street to Dearborn Street; 105th Lane, from Dearborn Street to Green Place; Green Place, from 190 feet north of 109th Avenue to 105th Lane; Benton Street, from 109th Avenue to 105th Court; and Lawrence Drive from, 112th Avenue to 110th Lane.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
