Clay Township: Police levy going back on the ballot, chief says

News Editor
news@presspublications

Voters in Clay Township will likely see another levy request for police service on the May ballot.
Police chief David Dunn said last week he plans to file the paperwork to have a 4.3-mill, continuing replacement levy on the ballot.
Voters narrowly rejected the same millage request in November: 698-for to 710-against. The levy passed by one vote in the Clay 3 precinct: 336 – for to 335-against but lost by 13 votes in Clay 4: 362-for to 375-against.
Despite the loss, the chief is proceeding with the hiring of another full-time patrol officer, which would bring the department roster to four full-time officers and two part-time officers in addition to the chief.
“I would like to have the new officer hired before the end of January,” chief Dunn said.
Dunn was appointed chief in November when his predecessor, Terry Mitchell, retired. Dunn will also retain his duties as the township zoning inspector.
Body cameras will be in use by the department shortly, Dunn said.
“They’re on order, so we should be getting those rolling as soon as we get them. We’ve been working on getting policies for retention and other things together for that,” the chief said.
The township trustees recently approved a new pay scale for the department. Part-time officers with less than 12 months on the job will start at $20 per hour. That increases to $21 per hour for those with 13 to 24 months and $22 per hour on the 25th month.
Full-time officers with less than a year on the job will start at $26 per hour. The pay increases to $26.75 for full-timers with 13 to 24 months and to $27 per hour on the 25th month.
Full-time sergeants with less than a year will start at $28 an hour. That increases to $28.50 at 13 to 24 months and $29 at the 25th month.
During a recent meeting the trustees also discussed meeting with Brent Huston, the mayor of Genoa, to talk about police patrols.
Minutes of the trustees’ Dec. 9 meeting include a report by chief Dunn stating township patrol officers have had to cover calls originating in Genoa because the village doesn’t have an officer on duty.
Chief Dunn said the village calls answered by the township primarily occur during the evening and early morning.
According to records in the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the township department has responded to five calls in the village since Nov. 1.
“It’s not a real serious issue but it is an issue. The village doesn’t pay into our police department. So it does take away from our residents that we have to cover when they’re (Genoa police) are out,” Dunn said. “This is not anything new by any means. It’s just an on-going issue that periodically pops up.”