Lansing- Michigan State Police protection and services from the Groveland post will end following the breakdown of a legislative conference committee agreement regarding the state budget on Wednesday. After nearly a year of banter the Senate voted 21-17 to concur with the committee report that specifically calls for the post to be closed on Dec.1.
The Michigan State Police opened in the Groveland Township location in 1996 and patrol in Groveland, Holly, and Rose townships. The affected townships will now have to devise a plan for police protection for the nearly 15,000 residents who live within each of the 36 mile square townships. While public safety departments, contracts with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and other plans have been discussed, it’s just a wait and see attitude say township officials. Michigan State Police posts in Iron River and Grand Haven will also close.
‘We’re dissapointed with the decison,? said Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor. ‘Right now we’ll continue to call the state police for protection and will meet with them to find out where they’ll come from for service. The whole reason the post was open in the first place was to save fuel and money. Now there’re closing it.?
‘Oakland county pays for state services through taxes and now we’ll get even less back.?
The Michigan State Police divides the state into districts. In District 2, where the Groveland post is located, the closest post is 42 miles away in Oak Park. The Flint post, located 17 miles north of Groveland Township in Genesee County, doesn’t normally respond to incidents in District 2. The Groveland post includes 14 troopers, one detective sergeant, one post commander, one sergeant in addition to some office staff.
Officials from Debbie Cherry’s (D- office said Senate Democrats had offered amendments in the committee to keep funding the post and remove the language calling for the post to be closed. Had the language been removed there was a chance of funding the post through a supplemental budget.
‘I’m extraordinarily disappointed by the state police budget approved by the Senate today,? said Cherry in a statement issued late Wednesday.
‘I support many pieces of this bill, but the budget vote came down to one issue’whether or not to fund public safety. Closing the Groveland Township post is not in the best interest of my constituents or Michigan as a whole. I will continue to work over the next 60 days to reverse this decision.?
State Rep. Jim Marleau R-Lake Orion was also disapointed with the outcome.
‘We had an agreement worked out going into negotiations, but the governor made the issue into a political football and unbelievably fumbled it,? said Marleau R-Lake Orion in a statement on Wednesday. ‘This post closing was in her budget recommendation from the beginning.?
Marleau said he has not given up hope.
‘I voted against cutting this much-needed police post in northern Oakland County and encouraged my colleagues to do the same,? Marleau said. ‘Even though we lost this battle, we were able to keep funding for an additional 60 days and I hope that during this time we will be able find a solution that does not threaten public safety.?
The bill now goes to the governor.
Facing state budget shortfalls of $770 million, Gov. Jennifer Granholm recommended earlier this year the State Police post in Groveland Township, along with state police posts in Grand Haven, and Iron River close. The proposed Oct. 1 closures would save the state an estimated $1.1 million, say officials from the governor’s office, with an estimated $300,000 from the Groveland Post.
Since the announcement Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma, along with officials from Holly and Rose townships, have appealed to legislators and the governor’s office. Several officials have testified before the budget committee in support of keeping the state police team in the township.
On June 10 officials from Rep. Jim Marleau’s office announced that following the passage of a proposed $39.7 billion budget from the House no state police teams or posts will close. Rep. Marleau along with Rep. David Farhat (R-Muskegon) co-sponsored an amendment which would prevent the Groveland Post from closing in the House proposed budget.
The House passed a balanced budget and according to the constitution the State Budget must be approved by the end of the fiscal year Oct.1. The budget process must be completed and approved no later than Sept. 30.
However, on Wednesday the Senate approved the measure established by the conference committee and voted to close the posts.