MILTON TOWNSHIP — Sparked by multiple requests from residents for an increased police presence in Milton Township, the township’s board of trustees is exploring the possibility of placing a law enforcement millage on the November 2016 ballot.

Supervisor Robert Benjamin said about a dozen people have requested more patrols in the township over the last few months.

“We’ve had various people come in and complain about break-ins,” he said. “The [Cass County] Sheriff’s office came in and gave us a report on the different break-ins and drug activity going on.”

Although Milton Township receives police service from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, it does not have a law enforcement service dedicated solely to the township and its nearly 4,000 residents.

Benjamin said the board is considering contracting with the sheriff’s department to provide one patrol person dedicated to covering Milton Township.

“It would be very similar to what Howard Township does,” said Benjamin, adding that they wouldn’t know how much it would cost until next spring. “Right now we believe we can do it for a mill or less based off of the projections of what Howard Township pays for.”

The board is still in the preliminary stages of examining the issue.

“I really want residents to know what they are voting on and what the financial impacts are as well as what kind of services they are providing,” Benjamin said. “I think right now we are looking at putting that into a November election and letting residents decide if that is something that they want to do.”