Funding cuts could affect your safety
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA, tkulemeka@nncogannett.com
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
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VIOLET TOWNSHIP -- The township may have to find money to keep officers patrolling the streets around-the clock.
At least 23 employees, including deputies, will be laid off so the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department can make budget. Residents rejected a sales tax levy that would have paid for a new jail. ''We have no idea what's going to happen,'' said Township Trustee Chairman Terry Dunlap. ''We know the sheriff has made some cuts, but we don't know how much that affects the patrol patterns. We're waiting because the layoffs haven't taken effect yet.'' Providing continual police protection is crucial for the township that gained home-rule authority about three months ago in the November election.
Home rule requires the township to provide police protection 24 hours, seven days a week by contracting police services or having a police department.
Violet Township has a contract with the sheriff's office. Under the contract, the township provides the building for the substation and pays operational costs, including maintenance, and bills except for telephones. Three deputies assigned to the substation, two of who patrol the township around the clock.
''If the sheriff's office keeps one car in the township at all times, we may be OK, but if (Sheriff Dave Phalen) has to cut back to where there is no care in Violet Township (at all times), we have to fill that gap and comply with the home rule law,'' Dunlap said.
Some Violet Township residents want to make sure their neighborhoods remain safe.
''I wasn't aware that (the failure of the sales tax levy) could possibly affect the services (the substation) receive,'' said Joan Boezio, who's lived in the township for more than eight years. ''It's important (to have those services).''
Boezio would support raising taxes for additional funds if the township officials need it. So would Helen Mayle.
''I voted for the sales tax levy,'' Mayle said. ''You want to be safe in your home. I choose to live where I live because it's a safe community.''
Sheriff Dave Phalen said police service still will be provided to the area. He couldn't say how much coverage though.
''We will be working with them, and we're going to provide them a level of protection,'' Phalen said. ''As we look at budget cuts, some of that may be reduced, but we're in the process of looking at all of our options.''
Dave Lawler said he has ''faith in the trustees and county government'' to make the right decisions where cuts are concerned.
''As the cuts are made it will affect the whole county,'' said Lawler, a Violet Township resident. ''So no matter where he cuts, coverage is going to be slower but I'm not worried about it. We don't have that much crime, and I know there will be some coverage here.''
Originally published Saturday, February 26, 2005
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA, tkulemeka@nncogannett.com
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIOLET TOWNSHIP -- The township may have to find money to keep officers patrolling the streets around-the clock.
At least 23 employees, including deputies, will be laid off so the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department can make budget. Residents rejected a sales tax levy that would have paid for a new jail. ''We have no idea what's going to happen,'' said Township Trustee Chairman Terry Dunlap. ''We know the sheriff has made some cuts, but we don't know how much that affects the patrol patterns. We're waiting because the layoffs haven't taken effect yet.'' Providing continual police protection is crucial for the township that gained home-rule authority about three months ago in the November election.
Home rule requires the township to provide police protection 24 hours, seven days a week by contracting police services or having a police department.
Violet Township has a contract with the sheriff's office. Under the contract, the township provides the building for the substation and pays operational costs, including maintenance, and bills except for telephones. Three deputies assigned to the substation, two of who patrol the township around the clock.
''If the sheriff's office keeps one car in the township at all times, we may be OK, but if (Sheriff Dave Phalen) has to cut back to where there is no care in Violet Township (at all times), we have to fill that gap and comply with the home rule law,'' Dunlap said.
Some Violet Township residents want to make sure their neighborhoods remain safe.
''I wasn't aware that (the failure of the sales tax levy) could possibly affect the services (the substation) receive,'' said Joan Boezio, who's lived in the township for more than eight years. ''It's important (to have those services).''
Boezio would support raising taxes for additional funds if the township officials need it. So would Helen Mayle.
''I voted for the sales tax levy,'' Mayle said. ''You want to be safe in your home. I choose to live where I live because it's a safe community.''
Sheriff Dave Phalen said police service still will be provided to the area. He couldn't say how much coverage though.
''We will be working with them, and we're going to provide them a level of protection,'' Phalen said. ''As we look at budget cuts, some of that may be reduced, but we're in the process of looking at all of our options.''
Dave Lawler said he has ''faith in the trustees and county government'' to make the right decisions where cuts are concerned.
''As the cuts are made it will affect the whole county,'' said Lawler, a Violet Township resident. ''So no matter where he cuts, coverage is going to be slower but I'm not worried about it. We don't have that much crime, and I know there will be some coverage here.''
Originally published Saturday, February 26, 2005
