Onaway City Commission discusses agreement with PISD

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

The Onaway City Commission continues to work on a way to have police coverage in the city after not extending the contract of the city’s lone officer, Jim Gibson, beyond May 1.

City manager Joe Hefele drafted an agreement between the city and the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department and the city attorney reviewed the draft. Hefele has already submitted the draft proposal to sheriff Bob Paschke and will be meeting with Paschke and undersheriff Joe Brewbaker to discuss it in the coming week.

“My hope is to present something to the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners at its May 31 meeting. The agreement would begin July 1, 2013, the first day of the county’s 2013-14 fiscal year,” said Hefele.

The commissioners felt comfortable with the agreement except the dollar figure and the hours. The agreement is for one year, which will allow the city to assess how things are working. Hefele anticipates that the commissioners could then review things as they enter their next planning and budget workshop in January.

Part of the agreement is that a minimum of 16 hours of nighttime patrol would be done per week in addition to the routine patrol and investigation the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department would provide Onaway.

Commissioners Ron Horrocks and Bernie Schmeltzer voiced their concern over the dollar amount, feeling it was too much money. Hefele told the commissioners he would continue to work on the dollar amount with the sheriff.

PRIOR TO discussing the agreement the commission heard more public comment regarding the city not having police protection.

Christina Chaskey told the commission that over the weekend she had her cars broken into and she knew of several other residents who had problems. “I have not had to lock my doors and shut my windows when I went to work since my brother was murdered almost five years ago. This is ridiculous. I tried to call the sheriff’s office today, the deputy that handled my case is not there until Thursday, no one there can help me. I know that this is probably not your guys’ problem but it is mine. I feel unsafe now. It’s aggravating. There is no reason for this. I shouldn’t have to live like this in the city of Onaway, som

ething needs to be done to make me feel safe again,” she said. Marma Beatty also commented on the city no longer having a police department and how she felt the city was going down the drain because of it.

IN OTHER CITY COMMISSION NEWS:

• The commission approved a lease between the city and Tim and Norrie Horrocks that will allow the Fourth of July fireworks to be shot off from the Horrocks field off M-211 for the ninth year in a row. The lease was unanimously approved. The commission also approved liability insurance for the fireworks show through the Michigan Municipal League.

• Hefele will be submitting a letter of interest to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to have a housing market analysis done for the city. This will be required if any MSHDA grant dollars are going to be used to construct housing in the city for the new hires Moran Iron Works plans to have.