2/22/13 - Negotiations continue between the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department and Hartland and Tyrone Townships for community policing. The Department currently contracts with Hartland, Tyrone and Putnam Townships for patrol services. The contracts covering Hartland and Tyrone are up at the end of March and the two communities have been negotiating terms of a new deal. The county is proposing an increase during in the second year that it says are closer to the true costs of providing patrol services, totaling $153,425 in the first year and $160,789 in the second. Officials in the two communities are now together proposing a counter-offer calling for a two year contract renewal at the current rate, with no increases. Hartland Township Manager James Wickman says theyâre mindful of the economic circumstances but donât feel an increase is appropriate when the base service is provided to others at no extra cost. He says both communities value the partnership and have agreed on what the terms of an extension should look like in the counter-proposal provided to the county. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the contracts support six deputies and allow for quicker response times by ensuring a dedicated patrol car is in the municipalities, improving public safety overall. He fears that without a dedicated patrol car in the municipalities, response times will go up drastically. If they canât reach an agreement, Bezotte expects a snowball effect, where the department will continue to lose deputies and have public safety suffer. The proposed contracts are expected to be discussed during the Board of Commissioners Public Safety Committee meeting Monday night. More information on specifics can be found below. (JM)
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