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November 16, 2009

Committee says keep 50-50 city, county cost sharing

By Michael Schaffer - Managing editor

And the four-member citizen committee's non-binding recommendation is...continue the current 28E agreement calling for the city of Centerville and Appanoose County to equally share Law Enforcement Center costs. The 50-50 cost sharing agreement that has been in effect since 1982 was fair and adequate.

The original 28E agreement, proposed in 1971 and recorded in 1972, which established the Appanoose County Service Agency and recommended combined city and county law enforcement communications and inmate housing in one building, required Centerville to pay 60 percent and the county to cover 40 percent of the costs.

Appanoose County Sheriff Gary Anderson delivered the review committee's recommendation to the Appanoose County Service Agency Thursday morning at City Hall. Sheriff Anderson also delivered a written copy of a comprehensive report outlining Law Enforcement Center revenue sources, expenditures and a brief history of the 28E agreement.

Not present at the meeting were the city's representatives, councilmen Wallace "Moe" Carter and Bill McAfee and Centerville Police Chief Tom Demry. Sitting in for absent supervisor Linda Rouse was Jody McDanel.

Agency members took no action on the written report or the recommendation during the 23-minute meeting.

Despite the recommendation, councilman Rob Lind, observing the meeting, argued Centerville taxpayers were still paying more than their fair share to run the Law Enforcement Center.

"I just feel that the system needs to be overhauled," Lind said. "We as a city entered into this unified law enforcement agreement 37 years ago because, I think, at that time the county was desperate and we were better off and we could help. I think we're due a little more consideration when it comes to figuring out how law enforcement is paid for."

Lind said it was a distinct possibility in the future Centerville may not be able to keep funding law enforcement at the current level.

"I think we need to start discussions on how we can make sure that in the future, as tax revenues fall in this city that we don't lose the public safety," Lind said. "That the city and county enjoy right now."

Lind brought up the possibility public safety could go county-wide. He also argued the city's use of square footage at the center was not disproportionally large compared to the county's use of square feet. He said the county was responsible for the jail and that space should be added to the county's total.

"And I don't really care, myself, just who uses what as long as we have public safety," Lind said.

The four-member citizen review panel consisted of Ann Young, Randy Walker, Richard Gordon and Ray Tresemer.

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This week the Iowegian wants readers to think about the recent decision by the Centerville Municipal Waterworks Board of Directors to increase the fee for late payment of water bills. In a story published in Wednesday's Ad Express, board members announced a 10 percent late fee after two days late, a $50 red tag fee for accounts unpaid after seven days late and a $25 shut off fee, water service terminated after two weeks late. The board said the decision to increase the fees associated with late payment is to encourage customers to pay their bills on time. So, the question this week is, "Are these fees too much to ask for?"

A. Yes, they are.
B. No, they are not.
C. I'm not affected so I don't care.
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