I have been listening, with some interest, to the most recent local borough controversy of expanded police service (and I assume patrols) outside of the townsite service area. I think it’s fair to say that there are two opposing sides; those who want police services and those who don’t. The solution’s simple: let the tax paying electorate vote. Majority wins, right? Consider, we all pay taxes, we’re all affected: the townsite who now pay for the service, and the rest of the borough who don’t.
So it would seem that the entire borough, townsite and everyone else, are affected and should have a say. After all it is our tax money. But wait, there are questions that still need to be answered before any decision(s) should be made. Has the state (public safety) said they will no longer respond to calls outside the townsite? Or are they simply saying they are pulling the trooper but not relinquishing responsibility. Mayor Hill, pick up the phone and call public safety commissioner Walt Monegan and ask him, “Will the troopers send a trooper(s) to investigate crimes and answer complaints?” Then the argument has more meaning and we, the borough taxpayers, can decide what to do. Simple? Maybe. Hold on folks, this rodeo has just begun.
Greg Goodman