“Dealing with the police department here, I like these guys.”
One after the other, speakers at a public input session said why they want to save the Allegan police department.
“I could not speak more highly of this team.”
“This was jumped to way too soon and not thought out how else to keep the city police department.”
At last week’s council meeting city manager Joel Dye said eliminating the Allegan police force and contracting with the sheriff’s department for public safety services would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. Money needed for infrastructure projects. But public speakers were not persuaded.
“I really don’t think it’s a good idea to get rid of the police when you are right at the beginning of a recession.”
After hearing the input, city manager Dye says they will look for other funding sources to pay for infrastructure improvements, although he does not think residents will support a public safety millage.
“I don’t believe residents will approve adding to the current millage rate. The city of Allegan is already one of the highest taxes municipalities in the county.”
