By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
In stark contrast to last year’s drama over competing proposals offered by the county and town for local policing services in the Village of Waterford, the Village Board voted July 8 to re-up with the County, unanimously approving a 2014 contract with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
The board’s vote continues a more than 35-year-old contractual arrangement in place for the village with the Sheriff’s Department.
Last year, Town Police Chief Tom Ditscheit proposed a new, joint policing arrangement between the town and village. Village Board members, after months of discussion, eventually opted to stay the course with the county for 2013.
Proponents had argued that a joint town/village arrangement would have been less costly and just as effective as paying for county coverage. Opponents disagreed.
The village’s new 2014 contract features a 1.62 percent increase from 2013. The 2014 contract calls for $377,217 in total contract costs, which includes deputies, administration and mileage costs.
For 2013, contract costs are $371,108, a 3.49 percent increase over 2012.
Joint fire protection
On June 24, the Village Board approved a new, two-year 2014-15 contract for fire protection services provided by the village to the town.
The new contract offer was then sent to the town for review and approval. It mirrors the fire contract currently in effect, which runs through Dec. 31, 2013, and features “per call” billing versus the flat cost previously billed to the town by the village. This billing arrangement saves the town money, according to Supervisor Lisa Jeschke, who serves as the Town Board liaison for fire services.
A meeting is being set up with the Tichigan Fire Chief and the Village’s Fire Chief to discuss details of the new contract, according to Town Chairman Tom Hincz.
“There need to be some changes in the existing contract,” Hincz said. Also, some legal issues have been raised by Mike Dubis, the Town’s attorney, Hincz said.
“All intentions are to renew the contract once we have agreement,” Hincz added.
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