Town officials say board is ‘fact finding;’ no plans are proposed
By Michael S. Hoey
CORRESPONDENT
The Town of Delavan has no plans to have the city take over its police department, town officials said last week.
The town has begun talks with the City of Delavan about possible ways to share services between the municipalities. Town Board Chairman Ryan Simons said he and Town Administrator John Olson met Feb. 6 with Mayor Mel Nieuwenhuis and City Administrator Denise Pieroni. Simons said that discussion focused on shared services for parks, recreation, fire and rescue and police.
The discussion prompted questions Feb. 11 from Police Chief Phil Smith and former City of Delavan Chief Larry Malsch, a township resident, at the board’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
Smith asked if the town Police Department had done something wrong to prompt consideration of shared service or whether the town had asked the city about “taking over” its police department.
Simons said the city and town officials’ discussion about shared services was general, and nothing has been proposed.
“The board is simply on a fact-finding mission,” he said.
Simons said the consideration is “absolutely not” because of anything the town police did.
“I feel the police department does an excellent job,” he said.
Malsch and Smith asked if the town and city have talked about the city taking over the town’s night shift of police coverage. Simons said that is just a rumor.
Simons said discussion about shared services began after the town received a letter from Nieuwenhuis and Denise Pieroni in late January asking to talk about the idea.
Malsch, who serves on the Police and Fire Commission, said he is glad the board will host listening sessions about the potential sharing of services. The first session was scheduled for Tuesday after the Town Board meeting. Simons said two more will be held but have not yet been scheduled.
Malsch said residents did not support the idea of eliminating the police department when it was discussed in the past. He asked what is generating interest in doing so now and why the town wants to cut hours at the police department.
Simons said cutting hours has not been discussed. He said the interest in sharing services came from the city and only one meeting has been held. He said no decisions have been made and no proposals are on the table.
Supervisor Kim Jedlicka said the idea of sharing services is something the town should look into.
“Communities are facing financial challenges,” she said. “We welcome the public to come to the listening sessions.”
Jedlicka said it is important to get input from the citizens and people who will be affected by any changes that could be made.
Sharing model sought
Simons said the Wisconsin Towns Association has put together 84 shared service agreements to study. He said the board should look at the service agreements and learn what works and what does not if it is interested in sharing services in an effort to provide what is best for the citizens.
Simons said the town does not have a formal “parks” program, so an agreement with the city might be something to look in to. Town residents may also decide they are not interested in that service. Gathering that kind of information will be what listening sessions are for.
Smith asked if the city has been made aware that two squad cars must be in the township at all times if an agreement takes place. Simons said that discussion is way too preliminary.
Smith said he has some experience working with a shared service policing Geneva Lake. Five municipalities share the lake and police coverage of it, and Smith said that agreement has worked well.
Smith cautioned, however, that contracting someone else to provide police service is not the same as “sharing” services. He urged the board to proceed with caution because once the move is made, the town will not be able to go back.
Smith said he does not consider the arrangement between the city and the Village of Darien a “shared” service. He said the village disbanded its police department and contracted the city to police the village instead.
If that happens in the town of Delavan, Smith said his officers will work hard right up to the last day before the city takes over and he willwork closely with City Police Chief Tim O’Neill to make the transition smooth.
To read the rest of this story and more please pick up the Feb. 21 edition of the Delavan Enterprise.
