Scottville to consider police chief applicants

SCOTTVILLE – The Scottville Public Safety Committee will review eight applications for the possible part-time police chief position Monday; the committee will meet after the regular 5:30 p.m. city commission meeting.

The City of Scottville currently has an agreement with the City of Ludington in which the Ludington police chief and captain oversee administration of Scottville’s police department. Ludington Police Department also offers the service of its detective when needed. This agreement was first made in January 2011 and is in effect until December of this year.

However, Chief Mark Barnett has requested the contract be changed at the end of this. Barnett has asked that Ludington take over all police services with Scottville, to allow for more accountability and consistency. Though finances have never been formally discussed, with the exception of estimates, Scottville City Manager Amy Williams said the change would cost Scottville more money, which it cannot afford.

“The estimated numbers they gave were so much higher than we can even try to consider, and those were on the low end,” she said.

Sheriff Kim Cole has approached the city and has made an offer of providing about 40 hours of coverage. Scottville would provide a car and would also maintain a full-time officer and part-time officers.

One of the issues that would have to be worked out with that option is enforcement of Scottville’s ordinances. Currently sheriff’s deputies can only enforce state laws, not city laws. For example, a barking dog or loud music complaint in the city, can only be handled by a city officer.

The current police budget is $153,002, which includes $30,000 to Ludington.

The public safety committee is considering three options, including two scenarios with the sheriff’s department. One option is hiring a part-time police chief and keeping two full time officers and part-time officers. Williams estimates this option would mean an almost $10,000 a year savings in the budget.

The two sheriff’s department estimates include Scottville keeping one full-time officer and various part-time officer coverage. The first would cost $141,379 with $65,000 budgeted for the sheriff’s department and $20,118 budgeted for a part-time officer working three six-hour shifts.

The second sheriff’s option would cost $145,163 with $65,000 budgeted for the sheriff’s department. Part-time officer coverage would cost $23,862 working three eight-hour shifts.

The public safety committee meeting is open to the public.