Fair / 56° F
Archived Story
Township supervisor proposes taking police coverage issue to voters
Published 9:35pm Friday, October 21, 2011It’s becoming an annual tradition for Niles Township Supervisor Jim Kidwell.
- Jim Kidwell
For the third year in a row, Kidwell has proposed switching the township’s police coverage. In his proposed 2012 budget, Kidwell hasn’t budgeted for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, which has provided coverage for the township since 2006.
Instead, he has planned for the township to have its own police department — a move that Kidwell argues could save the township about $80,000.
In order for those savings to be realized, though, the township residents would need to agree to allow the current millage designated for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to be used for township patrols.
Township Treasurer Jim Ringler believes the township should stand pat with the sheriff’s department.
“When we took the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to the voters, they voted for them for our public safety,” Ringler said. “The people spoke, not the board. You have to respect what the people want.”
When he was elected supervisor in 2008, Kidwell, a Niles city police officer, pushed to bring back a township police department. But township residents narrowly approved a millage request for county coverage.
Kidwell knows that convincing the board to approve his budget, with the police department change, will be a tall task. The board has shut down his request the past two years.
“I really don’t think it will pass. The majority of the board is still steadfast on the sheriff’s department,” he said. “But my duty is to prepare a budget as cheaply as I can get by.”
The budget needs to be approved by the end of October. The board will have its next budget workshop 7 p.m. Monday.
Tags: Jim Kidwell, Niles Township
Some “Honest Citizens for Honest Government in Niles Township” put an unsigned letter in my paper tube last night. This coward didn’t even have the courage to drive around in the daylight. The gist of the letter is an old theme of Mr. Kidwell’s, Jim Ringler and the other Niles Charter TWP Board members who oppose his foolish proposals, such as selling the SEBC Landfill and forming a new TWP. police force are bad people and must be recalled. The fact is, they are the only ones looking out for the citizens of this township. Citizens who have made it clear that they want to keep the lanfill and do not want a TWP. police force. And just who are the “Honest Citizens for Honest Government”? Who knows. They’re so “Honest”, they don’t even sign their letters.
Well said Ralph. For some reason these people think they are representing the majority of voters. In fact, the majority of voters did not support Kidwell when you total the votes for or against the three candidates for supervisor. Bailey also may not have won a seat had someone else ran for trustee instead of the two other “Honest Citizens” who did. And, the majority of the voters did approve paying for a contract with the sheriff. 2012 will make for an interesting campaign and election for township board members and police protection in the township. Persistence sometimes pays off but, I think records and actions speaks volumes if the people pay attention to motives and vote!
Mr. Ballard and Mr. Tonkin, I too received this “anonymous” letter in paper box. I actually did check out the website that was in the letter and was quite surprised by the documents that are uploaded there. This article is simply about the supervisor putting a budget together and how he thinks it would save the tax payers on the township money. That is all. How this article has you two talking about the letter in your paper box is pretty amazing. Since you two brought it up, lets discuss it. Do either of you dispute the accusations made against Ringler and the other board members? Do you, Mr. Tonkin, plead ignorant to having knowledge of Mr. Ringler conducting real estate business from the township hall while you were in office? Have either of you did any fact checking on the accusations the letter has made? Have either of you visited the website and looked at the official documents there that were acquired from the township by the freedom of information act? I would guess the answer is no you have not. Always quick to speak, but slow to check up on information or do any fact checking on your own. If you choose to continue to get your information from the “Kidwell Haters Fan Club” that meets at Martins Cafe every morning, then so be it. Your uninformed and biased post to this blog continues to show how much you really do not know whats REALLY happening at the township. Finally, you are right, the Sheriff did win the majority vote. But let me remind you, it was by LESS than 100 votes. If this vote was performed again today, I think we may see a different result.
Oh but Dylan, once again you read between non-existent lines. I never once mentioned the mail box stuffing – I simply agreed with Mr. Ballard’s assessment of the anonymity to the letter. Why not sign it or post who is the “Honest Citizens”?
To answer the other questions, I have never disputed any accusations that are being made or is it my intent to help fuel your witch hunt of two dedicated public servants who have given much more to the township than anyone, including you. I am certain that Mr. Kidwell has made a few phone calls from the township pertaining to Galaxy or other non-township business that I would think is not unreasonable for him to do since he is not required to be at the office at all.
I do not go to Martin’s to get my information and I do develop my own opinions without anyone’s influence – including yours or the “Honest Citizens”. I have in fact checked the web site and documents. As you said, “Always quick to speak, but slow to check up on information or do any fact checking on your own.” “Your uninformed and biased post to this blog continues to show how much you really do not know what’s REALLY happening at the township.” is a joke in itself, as if I or others have no idea what the “Honest Citizens” are really up to. And finally, I agree that the vote may be much more different in 2012 – the county will garner more than 100 vote spread this time around even to my disapproval.
I just wonder how much good could be done if all the people busy playing Hatfield or McCoy were looking forward than over their shoulder. Never saw all the wheel sinning before Kidwell showed up. Just Sayin!
Martins? What time?
Well Dylan, you assume alot in your response, and you know what happens when you assume. It’s pretty amazing that you don’t see the connection. Mr. Kidwell is, once again, pushing for his township police force. The other members of the Board, don’t agree with his ideas ( note the vote on the RFP for audit services):
Kidwell motioned to put out RFP for audit services to be due February 28, 2011, Kuehn supported.
ROLL CALL AYES: Kuehn, Kidwell.
NAYES: Conover, Cooper, Durm-Hiatt, Noble, Ringler. MOTION DENIED.
Following further discussion, Ringler motioned to send out RFP for 2011 audit services to be returned by July 31, 2011.
Conover supported.
ROLL CALL AYES: Cooper, Durm-Hiatt, Kuehn, Noble, Ringler, Conover.
NAYES: Kidwell. MOTION CARRIED.
Even Mr. Kuehn voted to support Mr. Ringlers motion
So, Mr. Kidwell needs to eliminate these Board Members and stack the board in his favor. Is that plain enough for you?
By the way, Mr. Kidwell told me personally that, “the people don’t care about these things”, refering to the sale of the SEBC Landfill. Well, I think that sums up his fealings about all Township business.
As far as improprieties of other Board members, I believe these things have been investigated and addressed and no action has been taken by any law enforcement agency. So I assume that the HCHG, who ever they are, have taken it upon themselves to be judge and jury. Last time I checked, I was still in the USA and that’s not the way we do things here.
If Mr. Kidwell or anyone else wants something changed in the Township, they have every right to promote change. But the people who voted for the present Board members, did so for a reason. Neither Mr. Kidwell nor anyone else has the right to try to manipulate those votes.
Actually there is nothing wrong with asking the voters for what they want. In fact, the special county sheriff’s coverage millage is going to end anyway and the township would need to get help to pay for more years. The part about asking every year for a township department is fruitless since it was approved by mandate to contract with the county using a special millage for such. Had the board approved a township police force the millage could not be collected and I doubt the township could pay for an effective police force without extra money, especially in today’s economy. Then again, perhaps if so many law suits and lawyers’ fees were to end, they just might after all.