No-go on local merger suggestion

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A suggestion to combine the Van Wert Police Department and the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office and build a facility for the two law enforcement agencies was quickly shot down Monday night.

During a nine minute Committee of the Whole meeting, First Ward Councilman Jeff Agler shared his idea and said the combined agencies could save money.

“To me with the money you’d save with payroll alone because you’d need half the dispatchers, he said. “It would divide the cost up between the two, the heat, the rent, the maintenance and equipment and with the savings, it would pay for the building.”

He also suggested a new building could be constructed as the site of the former Van Wert Inn on N. Washington St., but it was pointed out that land has been sold and will soon be developed.

At-Large Councilman Jeff Kallas questioned how many positions would actually be saved because the same number of calls would still come in, and Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle said he has no interest in the idea and said he talked to Sheriff Tom Riggenbach, who also had no interest.

“We just renovated the whole department the last two years and we’ve spent quite a bit of money to do that,” Weigle said. “I would think it would be about a $10 million project.”

Weigle also noted the two departments have different systems and equipment. The discussion ended shortly after the chief’s comments. 

During council’s regular meeting, an ordinance that would have eliminated council committees failed. The vote was 4-2 in favor, but it needed a minimum of six yes votes. The measure actually required a re-vote Monday night. The initial vote was 6-0, but Councilwoman At-Large Judy Bowers and Third Ward Councilwoman Julie Moore mistakenly cast yes votes. Both have been opponents of the legislation.

During his report to council, Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming said road work along Leeson Ave. has temporarily slowed.

“There’s not much activity there this week and probably part of next week,” he explained. “The contractor has held up here for 5-7 days to go do some other work while we’re waiting on water fittings that have yet to arrive. The sanitary work is done and 90 percent of the storm (sewer) work is done, so around the Fourth of July they’ll start to install water services.”

Council tabled a pair of medicinal marijuana dispensary ordinances, but approved an ordinance allowing Law Director John Hatcher to move from the Municipal Building to space at Van Wert Municipal Court, and council members heard the first reading of an ordinance would allow the city to make announcements and notifications electronically on the city’s website, instead of a print newspaper.