Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents, officials press board to approve public safety millage as vote nears
Summary
Multiple public speakers and several commissioners urged support for the proposed Eaton County public safety millage, citing long response times and staff shortages; supporters described facility needs and the consequences if the measure fails.
Several residents and county officials used public comment and commissioner remarks April 16 to press for passage of a proposed public safety millage.
Mark Rigglesworth, an Eaton County resident, said he had heard of a three-hour wait for state police to respond to a property-damage crash and warned that longer response times affect EMS and fire service as well as policing: "We are much less safe with cutting 72 positions at the sheriff's office," he said. Sherry Ritchie, a Delta Township resident, said site visits to the animal-control center and conversations with staff convinced her to support the millage.
Commissioners and elected officials echoed public pleas. Several commissioners and the prosecutor publicly supported the proposal and the chair warned the board that failing the millage would force major cuts: "We would most likely get rid of all the cars, all the deputies, all the cameras ... There will never be road patrol in Eaton County again if it fails," Chairman Mott said in the meeting's budget discussion. Board members emphasized outreach and scheduled a special April 25 budget meeting for line-by-line review to prepare for potential outcomes.
