Strictly financial

Sixth Ward Councilman Rikke Van Johnson said today that he wanted to make clear that his reason for being able to accept Police Chief Michael Billdt staying beyond his previously expected retirement date of March 27 was his interest in protecting city money.

"Mine was based on based on monetary value," Johnson said today. "I just said it doesn't make financial sense (to hire an interim Police Chief)."

Billdt announced last week that he plans on staying on the job beyond March. Mayor Pat Morris' office released a timeline showing that a new chief could be hired as early as April 20.