With some reluctance, Shelburne Council has unanimously voted to accept the OPP offer to take over policing in town.
After reviewing the cost comparisons once more, it was evident that it was going to cost double to keep Shelburne Police than it would to transition to the Provincial Police.
There was a proposed idea discussed, that would have involved the offering of a lot in the industrial area of town on County Road 11 and Prentice Drive, where the owner would build a police station for Shelburne Police and lease it back to the town.
With a 5 year lease, followed by five renewals it would be a yearly fixed cost that would have cost millions over the years without the town actually owning it.
Council decided that was not a financially viable option as it would tie up any possible future borrowing capacity they would have.
Having the numbers in front of them and after months of no seemingly affordable options, Mayor Wade Mills said it seems it would no longer be financialy sustainable to keep the Shelburne Police Service.
He said the service the Shelburne Police has provided has been exceptional, but there is just no way out of a transition to the OPP and they didn’t want to keep putting a decision off.
Mills says the hope is that they will see the same faces on patrol, just in a different uniform.
In a recorded vote, council unanimously agreed to move to the acceptance of the OPP proposal, though there were many long faces, and several councillors were visibly upset with having to make that decision.
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In a media release sent out following the meeting:
Council requested a second contract policing proposal from the OPP on January 20, 2020.
Council was advised in December 2019 there were impacts to the future operating and staffing costs of Service to the Shelburne Police Services due to the disbandment of the Orangeville Police in October 2020.
These new costs were in addition to the estimated 20-year annual debt payments of about $200,000 to borrow about $3 million to renovate the police building.
In January 2020, Council recognized that the long-term sustainability and affordability of a small police force required further review and requested a second OPP proposal. The Shelburne Police Service was facing a range of significant operational and capital implications, including escalating annual costs.
The OPP presented their proposal on June 22, 2020. This proposal is estimated to provide significant savings of over $5 million over 10 years to the Town. The OPP is committed to providing continued service excellence to our community, including strong community partnerships.
On July 15, 2020 Council approved that the Town of Shelburne advise the Ontario Provincial Police that their contract policing proposal dated June 22, 2020 to provide policing services to the Town of Shelburne is accepted.
Mayor Wade Mills stated that the contributions of the Shelburne Police Services and our officers and staff is recognized and appreciated. Their dedication to serving our community for decades is a reflection of their commitment.
The Mayor said that in accepting the costing proposal of the OPP, Council has made a very difficult yet strategic long-term financial decision regarding the future delivery of our policing service for our Town.
The anticipated transition date to the OPP is February 2021.
The Mayor, Council and our Town staff look forward to having many of dedicated SPS officers and staff continue to serve our community as future staff of the OPP.