By a vote of 6-0, with two aldermen abstaining, the Algoma Common Council approved entering into a management contract with the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department to take over the administrative role of the Algoma Police Department. Over 60 residents of the City of Algoma were in attendance & more than 20 spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, a majority of which were opposed to the contract. Most of the concerns had to do with maintaining the current level of police coverage in the city.
According to the contract, Algoma will receive 24 hour a day, 7 day a week coverage, which will be provided by it’s current officers & part time deputies. There will always be at least one officer in the city. The county will handle the administrative duties & bring three investigators & four administrators as part of the agreement.
The contract goes into effect November 1st & runs through October 31st of 2014, both parties have opt-out clauses. With the change taking place in less than two weeks, Sheriff Matt Joski says the process has begun…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/k27.mp3|titles=Sheriff Matt Joski]
The cost savings to the city are estimated to be in the neighborhood of $100,000, which are realized because of the retirement of Chief of Police Terry Magno & not filling the position vacated by former Algoma Police Officer Neil Dorner.
