09/28/1970 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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202 have one attorney representing the 4 villages in order to save money. Mr. L'Allier mentioned that the same thing happened on the Highway Patrol tickets which we must prosecute; he liked Mr. Peterson's ideas. Mr. McMurchie stated that the whole area will have Metro Police in 5 years and we will be one precinct; however, if we had the County service, they would be reimbursed. There was discussion. Mr. L'Allier noted that if we get adequate protection, we could keep the Metro Council out. Councilman Otte of Lexington stated that he would like to see how long before they would be locked up for violation of the law if they keep the part time force. They could have 1 full time man. He felt the Metro Council would only come if the people let it come. Mr. Rosengren stated that he would prefer to stay as we are if we could, but he leaned toward the County. He feels there will be a great change here in the next year and we may do something altogether different. Mr. Cardinal agreed with Mr. Rosengren, feeling that the County could buy the equipment so we would not be out so much. Mr. McMurchie asked where it was in black and white that the County would purchase the equipment. Mr. L'Allier stated that this would have to go in the contract. Mr. Myhre questioned why there should be this difference in the proposal0 favored by the police and the Council members. Robert Patt of the Circle Pines department asked what the Sheriff had to offer -- he felt it wasn't half of what the part time forces gave now. With the consolidated plan the Villages would have control. Mr. Patt stated that on medical calls the Sheriff's department waits for an , ambulance whereas the local men save time and money by taking a less -- ,seriously injured person directly to the hospital themselves. Mr. L'Allier felt that even if we went County we could keep one of our cars to use and keep the constables on. Darrel Knell asked why there couldn't be evening classes for the training; he felt that we should keep the 4 departments together, so they could overlap a little. There was discussion,- Mr. McMurchie suggested that we ask for an answer from the Attorney General's office, stating that we have no intention to jeopardize our part time police departments and need part time training. There was discussion on reimbursement for wages and for tuition; it was suggested that clauses be added to contracts on reimbursement of tuition so that the officer would have to stay with his own force; perhaps a department hiring a recently trained man could reimburse the one paying for the tuition. Mayor Munson stated that Centerville was not obligated to go with either plan since they are under 1,000 population. As for Lexington, they are against the County proposal because of previous dealings with them. He commented that since Mr. Kordiak feels this is a gift to us and mentions the other public buildings which the County has provided for various communities (such as Columbia Arena), that maybe we should ask for full time County policing at no cost to us. Mr. Munson felt that the County police force would be run like the Court system. He agreed with Mlr. Otte that we should wait and see -- nothing has happened yet. He thought it unfair that the cost should always be based on population rather than area or valuation.