City voters will officially decide the fate of the Clarkston Police in an Aug. 3 primary.
‘In the minutes of the public hearing no less than five times did many of the people in this room say ‘put it to a vote,? said Mayor Steve Arkwright. ‘I do think that’s where it needs to go is to a public vote.?
The council voted unanimously at the Monday night meeting to decide the issue with a vote of the people. However, they will also enter agreements with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Independence Township substation, contingent on whether the vote passes.
If voters decide to sign on with OCSD, village residents would pay the same millage rate as Independence Township residents, which is still to be decided by the township board.
Resident and former Councilman Cory Johnston along with a group residents wrote up a resolution and sent it to the council to do a special assessment of $200 per house, so further options could be explored.
‘It’s our opinion that this needs more consideration, people don’t have enough information to make a decision about this,? he said. ‘We think there needs to be some citizen involvement. Some of us are under the opinion we were blindsided by the last meeting.?
City Manager Dennis Ritter said the finance committee, which consists of himself, Councilmen Jim Brueck and Mike Gawronski, Mayor Arkwright, and Treasurer/Clerk Jan Gillespie have looked at every single line item.
‘The special assessment district is to delay time so another committee of unelected people can review it ? I get it,? said Ritter. ‘If we weren’t doing our job, that would be another story, but the finance committee has worked diligently and we’ve looked at lots of alternatives.?
Ritter said he prefers to keep the police, but ‘facts are facts.?
‘I’m saying this not just as a city manager but as a resident ? we’re just delaying the inevitable,? he said.
Many of the residents said they were worried about response times and house checks.
‘One thing that’s really bothering me is we keep going back to house checks (by police). Am I wrong,? asked Councilman Charles Inabnit. ‘I check on my neighbors and I know they check on our house when we’re not there. Is there not that sense of community throughout the rest of the city??
Resident Peggy North, who was born and raised in Clarkston and has been a village resident for the past 20 years, spoke in the minority, and said she was offended people felt the village is an elite part of Clarkston over Independence Township.
‘I’d like to feel my family that grew up in Independence Township were just as fine outstanding residents as the village people are,? she said. ‘I’m baffled by the fact you would think the county doesn’t protect as well.?
For anything above writing a ticket, Clarkston PD calls for backup from county deputies anyway, she said.
‘The money factor is huge,? she said. ‘It’s a shame you’re losing people who wish to live here based on the taxes being so ridiculous, part of that being the police factor.?
Councilman Stephen Hargis agreed the tax rate was ‘out of line with reality and higher than it should be.?
Even members of the council who are in favor of handing over law enforcement to Independence felt it merited a vote of the people first.
‘I probably would have been under the persuasion to vote for this intergovernmental agreement with the township, but at the same time based on open public hearing and tonight I think a vote a the primary of election time would be appropriate,? said Brueck. ‘It’s a significant issue.?
Gawronski said it was a choice between ‘gas in the car and buying beefaroni or riding a bike and getting a steak for the weekend.?
‘It’s a cost-benefit ratio,? he said. ‘As such, it makes sense for the entire community to cast their votes and decide what we can afford and what we can’t.?