gŏđŏ
editionap.ca
Counties turn thumbs down regional police deal RICHARD MAHONEY richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca contract is more expensive than individual contracts,” stated the summary brief, “the explanations provided by the OPP seem reasonable.” $400,000 to the cost of policing their part of Prescott-Russell.
A third factor is that four municipalities in Prescott-Russell enjoy a discount rate for their police service use (PSU) provided a provincial formula for communities that do not have a fixed policing contract. A re- gional policing set-up would mean losing that discount amounts to close to $400,000 in total. The PSU discount, the 2003 funding for- mula saving, and the projected increase due to extra civilian staff needed all add up to the $1.3 million extra that the UCPR would have to collect from all of its member municipalities to pay for a regional policing contract. paramedics will be hired, for a total of four, in 2015 for the station in Bourget. The addition of more paramedics for Clarence-Rockland will not have an impact on the current budget because the depart- ment has a $266,734 surplus, Chrétien re- lated. Paramedics in Hawkesbury, Alfred, East Hawkesbury and Champlain receive 47 per cent of emergency calls and have 4.25 units to serve the region. In the Nation, Russell and Casselman, there are three units which handle 25 per cent of all emergency calls.
The report noted several factors that would contribute to the increased cost, including an increase in the number of ci- vilian support staff members needed for a regional police service. Another factor is that right now Cassel- man, Russell Township and The Nation each have O.P.P. service contracts based on a funding formula that dates back to 2003. But switching over to a regional police force would mean giving up that formula, which worked in their favour, for the current cost- charge formula that would add more than Two more paramedics will be assigned to Rockland in order to deal with the heavy caseload in the district. One vehicle is available in Clarence-Rock- land. This unit responds to 21 per cent of all ambulance calls in Prescott-Russell, depart- ment director Michel Chrétien told the unit- ed counties emergency services committee recently. “This vehicle is therefore twice as busy as any other vehicle in Prescott and Russell,” said Chrétien. Two paramedics will be added to the Rockland sector in November and two
L’ORIGNAL | Deemed too costly, a pro- posed regional police force for Prescott- Russell has been rejected by united coun- ties council. AtWednesday’s council session, members endorsed a recommendation to discard a region-wide policing contract with the On- tario Provincial Police (O.P.P.). A contract would cost the United Coun- ties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) about $1.3 million more than the current bills the eight member municipalities now pay the O.P.P., according to an analysis submitted to coun- cil earlier this month. The net costs for a regional police service would be $15,477,872 for 2013 compared to the $14,167,565 tab municipalities now pay. O.P.P. representatives have told the coun- ties that while the average rate for policing services in the province is $160 to $170 per capita, the rate for the proposed county- based contract is $185.42 per capita. From 2010 to 2013, policing costs have increased by 17.6 per cent. Costs per capita vary from $105.62 to $381.67, with an average of $170.59. Hawkesbury pays the highest per capita rate -- $381 – while The Nation has the best deal -- $105 per person. Hawkesbury is the only Prescott-Russell
municipality that receives no police subsi- dies. Under the options presented by the po- lice, two municipalities, Hawkesbury and Casselman, would save money under a county-wide service. Hawkesbury’s savings would range from $1.7 million to $2.4mil- lion while Casselman could save between $165,000 and $235,000. However, since the six other municipali- ties would face higher bills, the status quo would be the best option, chief administra- tor Stéphane Parisien told council. The town of Hawkesbury first suggested in 2011 that the counties consider a region- al constabulary. “While it is surprising that a county-based
More paramedics for Rockland
J.A. WILLIAMS SALES & SERVICE / VENTES ET SERVICE 1490 Dunning Road, Cumberland, ON K4C 1P9 613 833-2504 Super Savings! 0% Financing! Free Delivery!! SNOW DAYS! JOURS DE NEIGE! Two Days Only! Friday October 4 th —8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday October 5 th —8 a.m. to 12 noon * ** www.jawilliams.ca
TWO DAYS ONLY! OCTOBER 4 & 5 DEUX JOURS SEULEMENT LE 4 ET 5 OCTOBRE Rabais incroyables! Financement 0%! Livraison gratuite! Deux jours seulement! Vendredi le 4 octobre de 8h à 17h et samedi le 5 octobre de 8h à midi * ** *Financing Available OAC / Financmenent disponible sur approbation de crédit. **Free Delivery within 50 km. / Livraison gratuite dans un rayon de 50 kilomètres. G179306_TS
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online