Butler officials Tuesday commended city police for their handling of the protest held downtown Sunday and said groups of armed citizens were patrolling the streets that day to help protect people.

The protest began about 2 p.m. on South Main Street near the Butler County Courthouse and was held in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man whose death May 25 while being arrested by police in Minneapolis has sparked riots in cities nationwide. At its peak, 300 to 400 people took part in the protest.

Police arrested eight people for threatening and fighting with officers, failure to disperse and other charges.

Councilman Jeff Smith commended Police Chief Bob O'Neill and the police department and said the city should make sure that officers are trained to avoid a situation like the one that took place in Minneapolis.

He called on the district attorney's office to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the person who instigated the confrontation with police.

Jeff Smith said there were groups of armed citizens patrolling the city. He said he approached one of the groups and told them that the police department would protect the city.

Councilman Mike Walter said armed people should not have been patrolling Main Street.

Mayor Ben Smith commended city police and Butler Township police, the county sheriff's office and county emergency service personnel who came to assist.

He gave kudos to the people who protested peacefully, but had harsh words for those who provoked other protesters and police.

“I publicly condemn provocateurs on both sides of the protest line,” Ben Smith said.

He said officers exercised restraint toward protesters who threatened and taunted them.

Councilman Bob Dandoy said downtown business owners told him the police did a good job of controlling the situation.

Council also discussed reopening the City Building after the county moves to the green COVID-19 reopening phase and adding security to the building, but most said they prefer to keep the building closed and to continue holding council meetings through Zoom electronic conferencing.

Other business

Council awarded a $77,024 contract to Marra Brothers Contracting to replace four windows, replace and paint exterior window trim and repair windows at the City Building.

Council members expressed concerns over the cost of the project. Marra Brothers was the only contractor to submit a bid for the project.

Building code official John Evans said the four windows being replaced are large and will have to be specially made. The prevailing wage requirement in the contract also contributed to the cost, he said.

Before the roof was replaced last year, water leaked and damaged the window trim.

The project is expected to begin in three or four weeks and take five to six weeks to complete.

In personnel moves, council promoted firefighter James Reeder to lieutenant and appointed Steve Krause and Travis Uhl to four-year terms on the planning zoning commission.

Ben Smith appointed Diana Bowman and Emmalee Herndon to three-year terms on the Shade Tree Commission and reappointed Pam Taylor to a three-year term. Bowman replaces Donna Smith and Herndon replaces Barb Long.

Butler resident Dane Winkler said he plans to apply for a permit from the county to hold a “community racial unity” rally in Diamond Park on June 27.

He said he will ask Republican and Democratic elected officials to speak.