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Mayor breaks tie to abolish police department

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John Lowe

The Village Reporter

BYESVILLE -- Village officials voted Monday evening to abolish the Byesville Police Department.

During a special meeting that began at 5 p.m., council adopted an emergency ordinance that repealed the original ordinance establishing the department.

Council also adopted two other emergency ordinances:

* One creating the position of Village Marshal, and

* One authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the Guernsey County Sheriff's Department for policing duties within the village.

Mayor Don Gadd and council members cited worsening revenue projections as the rationale for abolishing the police department. The abolition will take effect within 30 days, according to Village Administrator Randy Mercer.

"The current economy has resulted in the closing of a number of businesses within the [village] thereby significantly decreasing funds within the village necessary to sustain a village police department," read the ordinance.

"Current revenues are insufficient to fund a police department sufficient to meet the policing needs of the residents."

Council was evenly divided on the issue with council members Bob Long, Gene Netting and Randy Wray voting in favor of the abolition of the department. Council members Bill Albright, Jay Jackson and Margo Johnston voted against the ordinance.

Because of the tie, Mayor Don Gadd had to cast the deciding vote.

Gadd said later that the village had little choice.

"At one time, the [annual] budget for the police department was $350,000," he said. "Last year, we had $175,000. This year we have $135,000 -- and most of that has come in just the last couple of months."

With the recent closing of Pomegranate Health Systems and the consequent loss of 75 jobs, the village faces the prospect of even less income tax revenue next year, Gadd said.

The only factors that could mitigate that prospect would be for the economy to radically improve, the citizens to pass a proposed increase in the village income tax rate or both.

The ordinance authorizing the mayor to contract with the sheriff's office for policing duties will enable Gadd to contract for "specific coverage," the mayor said.

The sheriff's department would be obligated to respond to law enforcement emergencies within the village in any event. By contracting with the sheriff, however, the village can arrange for specific patrols at designated times.

"The Sheriff's Department has to provide basic coverage," Gadd said. "What we're buying is basic plus. The people demand a little bit more than basic coverage and expect a little bit more."

Council also adopted an ordinance establishing the marshal position because Ohio law requires all incorporated villages to have a marshal "even if it is in name only," Gadd said.

The specifics of the marshal's contract with respect to hours, duties and pay will be decided by council. And those questions will be discussed, beginning during a joint finance committee and legislative committee meeting at 4 p.m. on March 10.

Gadd said the current police chief, John Hornak, will be offered the marshal's position.

"It's the only honorable thing to do," Gadd said.

Council's action on Monday was preceded by a 45-minute executive session.

After the executive session, a citizen, Belle Hall, spoke in favor of keeping the police department intact.

"How can you get rid of the police department when we have all of these senior citizens in town?" she asked.

Hall said she didn't understand how Byesville was unable to maintain a police department when smaller villages have such departments. She cited Port Washington in Tuscarawas County which she said has police.

Gadd said he didn't know the status of that village's policing, but added that Byesville simply no longer has the revenue to support a police department.

(jlowe@daily-jeff.com)