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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2005)
The INDEPENDENT, February 3,2005 Page 13 Banks council hears proposal by Washington Co. Sheriff’s office . . . . __________ h m cm fo a rin n th a t teams, task forces and commu cided not to do so, fearing that sheriff’s salary, $93,257 for .75 Banks City Council listened nity resources. Gordon said a new vehicle would present a with focused attention, at a full time employee (FTE) and that field services are available poor public image when at January 27 workshop, and 66 cents per mile for a vehicle. tempting to pass a department The council was already to the city now, but access asked many questions during a would be greatly enhanced with levy. Richards noted that other presentation by the Washing painfully aware of the adminis department equipment is out an officer on site. ton County Sheriff’s Office trative burden imposed on the Gordon explained that dated to the point that finding (WCSO) outlining a potential city when trying to support their Banks could choose to supply repairs is becoming difficult. model for providing police serv own department. Banks has Deputy Jason Hermann, and maintain their own vehicle had a large turnover of officers ices for the city. Later in the (as long as it met county stan who is serving in Gaston, told and has been without a chief evening, Mayor Mike Lyda dis dards), but there are many ad council that he enjoys the re cussed with council the costs of since May 2003. Sheriff Gordon vantages in using a county ve wards of being a part of the supporting the police depart presented a graphic showing hicle. A county officer in Banks community, as opposed to op ment from the general fund the required administrative du would have a fully equipped erating out of the district office. ties, which include filing re through 2006. Because of his relationship with ports, developing policies, han and maintained vehicle, includ other officers in the county, dling human resource issues, ing a federally mandated mo Gaston model described Hermann said, the city is “real arranging required training op bile terminal upgrade required Based on the model of com ly getting 24/7 coverage” since portunities, etc. In a small by September of this year. The he communicates with them at munity policing developed over agency, administration can city could make decisions the beginning and end of each the last year with the City of consume about 60 percent of a about the appearance of a shift. Additionally, his hours are Gaston, Sheriff Rob Gordon ex department’s available time. county car, and would pay for plained that having an officer flexible, allowing him to attend With an additional amount, mileage only within the city. Es community and school events. permanently stationed in Gas about 10 percent, used by re timating that an officer would Councilor Teri Branstitre ton has created “an outpost” of quired leaves, a small agency average 25-30 miles per day, asked if a single .75 officer, as the department in that part of has only 30 percent, or so, of or less, the cost to the city the county, a great advantage would be about $30 per day. In Hermann works under the Gas hours available for field work. ton contract, could provide ade to the sheriff’s office. “The In contrast, Gordon said, the past, the city has budgeted quate coverage for Banks smartest way to police small “The county’s goal is to provide $40,000 per year for materials which has twice the population. communities is to form partner thirty hours [per week] of police and services, with most of that Garrett said that the city could ships with strong communica time in the field,” which they amount going to vehicle main contract for whatever level of tion,” according to Gordon, can do because, as a large de tenance. coverage they desired. A Banks both within the community and partment, economy of scale Police Department budget was to the county. The greatest ad provides a wide range of ad Vehicle, equipment about $180,000 per year under vantage may be that an officer ministrative services. WCSO is considerations the previous levy, which for the would always be available for a nationally accredited police Banks Police Officer Rob last couple of years forced the the position, even if the regular training agency, has a complete Richards, currently in training, department to postpone vehicle officer is on leave or in training. policy manual and can provide said that council will “be looking maintenance and other equip Chief Deputy Pat Garrett, a variety of professional man at cars” if they decided to fur ment upgrades. The same who has attended several agement services including nish a vehicle or maintain a po a m o u n t could. Dotentially, pur council meetings, presented specialists in records manage lice department. The city’s two the “nuts and bolts” of the op ment, peer support, grant writ active vehicles each have over tions developed for Banks by ing, crime prevention, purchas 100,000 miles and require con the sheriff’s department: The ing, and statistics. In addition, stant maintenance. Last year, county would provide an expe the county provides a broad council budgeted funds to rienced officer working inside range of field support services lease a vehicle, a cheaper op the city limits three-quarters including specialty response tion over the long run, then de time, with the additional quarter time spent in the local area out side the city. In addition, the county would assume most of the administrative duties and furnish a car. The cost to the city would include a median Oak Village Laundromat 4 Jumbo Washers Air-conditioned Easy Access w ith Ample Parking located next to Jim's Market at the junction of Hwy 47 & Hwy 6 Main Street, Banks □ ■I with chase a 1.5 FTE contract with Washington County. City funding considered Mayor Lyda outlined a pro posal that would hire a chief to redevelop the city’s department for the remainder of this fiscal year, creating a carryover to the 2005-2006 budget of $68,250. Supplemented by a transfer of $111,750 from the general fund, this would allow the city to have a two-person department with a budget of $180,000, through 2006. He then initiated discussion of the two proposals, saying that the Washington County plan was “the full meal deal” as opposed to the lean city-oper ated department possible on a $180,000 budget that “didn’t work before.” Councilor Kirk Andrews suggested that the city should start small [with a .75 contract] and see how this level of service met the city’s needs. City Attorney Jim Lucas not ed that “nobody in Washington County” has ever passed a double majority levy (which a November 2005 election would be). 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