PD revenue decreased following Goshen, Beloit split

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP -- The board of trustees took action in response to a recent decision by the village of Beloit not to renew its contract with the township for police protection.

The village of Beloit decided not to renew its contract with the township in March, choosing to instead sign a contract for police protection with the Smith Township Police Department. The township's current contract with Beloit, which expires this month, sees the township receive $45,000 annually, while the township was seeking $65,000 in its new proposal, which Fiscal Officer Michele Barratt said was the only change from the current contract.

Barratt said that the increased price was sought to bring the per-resident price more in line with what is paid by Goshen and Green townships residents, noting that the village paid "significantly less" than either township for the same police coverage. Under the previous contract the cost per resident to Beloit was $49.83, compared to the $153.20 and $134.91 per resident that Goshen and Green pay, respectively.

"We were just trying to make it closer to our costs," said Barratt.

Had the contract been approved Beloit's cost per-resident still would have been roughly half that of Goshen and Green Township at $71.98 per resident.

Barratt's sentiments were echoed by Trustee Shawn Mesler, who said that the requested price increase was not unreasonable, and that it was simply time for the township and village to discontinue their agreement.

"We're not asking for anything that's not warranted by any means, so it's just time to not continue that contract," said Mesler.

To that end, trustees voted unanimously to decrease the Police Fund revenue by $30,000 in response to Beloit's decision.

The township's agreement to provide School Resource Officers to the West Branch School District will not be affected. It is separate from the contract with Beloit and trustees recently renewed it, receiving approval from the West Branch Board of Education in August and trustees in September. The township has also taken steps to ensure it can continue providing police coverage to the district moving forward, with trustees voting unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the township's officers to be sworn in as constables in addition to their existing commissions in their March 20 special meeting. At that time Police Chief John Calko explained that the additional commission as constables will allow officers to provide police coverage anywhere in the county and to continue providing coverage to the entire district, including those areas not within the township.

Trustees also took the next step in this process, formally swearing in Calko and nine of the department's officers as constables, school resource officers Lt. Ryan McBride, Dylan Davin and Anthony Pilolli.

The board of trustees will meet next at 6 p.m. May 14.