Tyler Sawyer | Special to The Herald-Chronicle

CARBONDALE—Police chief Jon Reed spoke to the Carbondale City Council about plans for National Night Out when the council met in regular session Monday night. The event will be a combined celebration of the communities of Carbondale, Overbrook and Scranton set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Jones Park in Carbondale.

“I’m very excited for this thing,” Reed said. “We’re hoping to get as many as 300 people to come. We want to show the community and most importantly, the kids, that we’re here to help.”

Reed said his department will provide volunteers to help with organizing the event, with assistance from the three cities’ fire and police departments, along with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The local baseball field has been booked for LifeStar to land during the event in anticipation of confirmation from the air ambulance company. Organizers also plan to have ambulances and other vehicles on display to demonstrate their use during emergencies and help relieve possible fears towards emergency personnel.

The event will also include finger printing and cotton swab DNA gathering for Ident-A-Kid. Each child’s information will be given to him or her to take home. Children who participate in the Ident-A-Kid will also be able to swim free. The Carbondale swimming pool will extend its hours until 9 p.m. during National Night Out.

Reed said fliers for the event are being finalized and will be distributed around the three towns.

In other business, the council:

• unanimously approved placing the question of Sunday liquor sales on the November general election ballot.

• heard a request for Marvin Stevens for parking along the street at City Park for a lawn mower derby Sept. 11. The city deferred the decision to Reed, who said he was discussing details with Stevens to provide adequate parking while allowing access for emergency vehicles.

• appointed Scott Taylor to the zoning board of appeals.

• heard a citizen’s request for a speed bump in the alleyway north of Main Street between Topeka and Fourth streets. The council took no action.