SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The City of Saugatuck wants to know what residents think about police services in their community.
City Manager Kirk Harrier told council members during their meeting last evening that a ad-hoc commission wants to send out a survey by next Monday, asking those who live and work in Saugatuck about whether or not to continue having a joint police department with neighboring Douglas, establish an independent police department, or seek alternatives such as regional policing with Saugatuck Township or contracting with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department for police services. The five-page survey, patterned after a questionnaire developed by the US Department of Justice, should only take about five minutes to complete, with a mid-September deadline for its return. Budget concerns and issues with community relations with the current department led Council earlier this summer to start looking at police service alternatives.
Also during last night’s meeting, council members asked Harrier to draft a resolution asking US House Representative Fred Upton, along with US Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, to seek an exemption for the Saugatuck Chain Ferry’s crew so that they would not be subject to what city officials call “burdensome and costly” Coast Guard licensing requirements. Such regulations “threaten the continued operation” of the ferry, according to Harrier. The resolution should be ready for a vote on the August 18th meeting.
