February 23, 2011
Laurentian Hills
turns down police talks
by Denise Walker
The town of Laurentian
Hills knows its policing costs are going up this year, but the town
will have to wait a while to find out the exact increase.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has written to the town confirming
that a province-wide agreement has been signed for 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The agreement provides uniformed and civilian staff with a salary
increase of 5.075% for 2011. The good news is that 2012 and 2013 will
see a zero increase in salaries.
The additional salary costs will be added at the end of the year. The
town budgeted $346,000 for total policing costs in 2010.
Despite the lack of final numbers, Laurentian Hills council is sure of
one thing.
It believes it will be paying a lot less for policing in 2011 than the
town of Deep River.
That certainty played a key role in the town’s response to a letter
from Deep River Mayor Dave Thompson.
Thompson’s letter said the town of Deep River wanted to “explore a
variety of service delivery models for the provision of police services
in North Renfrew.”
The letter went on to suggest this could include the provision of
police services to Laurentian Hills on a contract basis, or by one
police force “jointly serving both municipalities.”
Laurentian Hills Mayor Dick Rabishaw told council that he had raised
the issue with Laurentian Hills Police Services Board.
He had also asked the town’s treasurer, Sherry Batten, to do some
research on the numbers.
Batten reported that the policing costs for the town of Laurentian
Hills were $225 per household in 2009. The 2009 per household cost for
the town of Deep River was $757.
Batten said the numbers came from the Ontario Municipal Partnership
Fund, compiled by the Ministry of Finance.
Rabishaw also pointed out that, the last time the issue of who should
police Laurentian Hills was raised, there was strong public support for
staying with the OPP.
Based on costs, and the advice of the police services board, Rabishaw
said, “my response then would be to say no to Deep River, we are happy
to stay with the OPP as our police service provider.”
Council unanimously agreed with him. They passed a resolution that
“declines the offer to explore a variety of service delivery models for
the town of Laurentian Hills from the Deep River Police.”
The mayor noted, however, that he would be very willing to discuss with
Deep River the service Laurentian Hills receives from the OPP.
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