Atlas Twp.- The volley of words and letters between the Township and Village regarding additional funding for police protection took turn yet another turn during Monday’s trustees meeting.
Township Supervisor Paul Amman again addressed the issue of establishing a police authority board and additional funding to ease a shortage of dollars to pay for police protection in Atlas Township and Goodrich.
Amman read a letter addressed to the village from the township regarding the police issue after village officials vetoed the establishment of a police authority board and additional funding last week.
‘For too long our community has been divided along ‘township? and ‘village? lines,? said Amman reading the letter. ‘In reality, village government is redundant to township government. It would be irresponsible of township government under my leadership to take the same position as the Village Council and Administration by abdicating our responsibilities.?
The banter stems from a township contract established with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department about 10 years ago funded by 1 mill from area property owners. Funds set aside to cover those costs have been depleted, leaving the township to draw from the general fund to pay the bill. It’s a temporary fix which, at current costs, will only last about five years, said Amman.
‘It is obvious in this case we, in township government, are going to have to figure out a way to generate more revenue or look at other services that can be reduced in order to maintain the same level of police protection. We will do so without assistance or cooperation from village government,? said Amman.
Ed York, Village council president responded to the township letter by reiterating that no further plans to discuss the P.A.B. will be considered.
‘He’s going to have to find some other way to fund the police force,? said York. neither the Village Council nor the Village Administration feel there is any need for the reestablishment of a (P.A.B.).
York said the response should not be interpreted as dismissive of the township or the police. Rather, said York, it expresses the council’s concern for establishing a P.A.B without first entering into an agreement with the township and establishing clear guidelines.
One point of contention is the division of additional police costs between the village and the township. Previously, these cost were split with the township paying 75 percent and the village paying 25 percent.
York said because village residents also live in the township, they are effectively double-billed in addition to what they pay with their millage.
The Village Council responded they are additionally charge in the March 13 letter to the township The Village Council has no interest in any arrangement that surcharges or penalizes the township residents that live in the Village.?
‘The village believes that the matter of police protection, the level of service for police protection and the method of financing police protection are all matters to be addressed and determined by all township residents for their mutual benefit.
?…an additional layer of bureaucracy under the auspices of the (P.A.B.) will not in the opinion of the Village Council and Administration contribute to improved public safety.?