Point/Counterpoint: Municipalities Save Money Through Public Safety Consolidation

Cities find combining police and fire services saves money. (Detroit News, 6/20/2011)

Excerpt:    Experts in municipal management say combining police and fire can save money and improve service, if done right.

Leonard Matarese, a research director at the International City/Council Management Association, said a public safety department is more efficient. "When you have a major event — a police or fire event — you end up with a larger group of qualified people to handle it," said Matarese, who has worked in several states as a police chief, city manager and a public safety director.

He cautioned that with training and equipment expenditures, a municipality could incur extra expenses — at first.

"But you have to look at this long-term," he said. "It saves money. There's no question about it. If a city can achieve a 5 to 10 percent savings, it's significant."

Police and fire costs can translate to as much as 75 percent of a municipality's budget. Kalamazoo, with about 75,000 residents, is the largest city in the state with a public safety department.


Counterpoint

Twin Lakes to Stay Together in the Community Library System

Twin Lakes to remain in Community Library System. (West of the I, 6/17/2011)

Excerpt: In a 6-1 vote with Trustee Shirley Bower voting for the withdrawal, the Village Board decided against withdrawing from the Community Library System and establishing the village’s municipal library, which would have taken effect, January 1, 2003.

I assume the year is actually 2013.

Community Library in the news:
Library gets the opinion it won't be bound by.  (6/9/2011)
Mike Faber on Silver Lake Branch Library:  Use it or lose it.  (5/10/2011)
Twin Lakes committee asks for opinion it won't be bound by.  (4/15/2011)
Twin Lakes village board should also consider a review of 43.52 (1m).  (3/20/2011)
Municipalities discuss contract changes.  (1/20/2011)
Twin Lakes to stay in Community Library.  (11/23/2010)
More library disagreements.  (11/13/2010)
Stakeholders agree to postpone to disagree.  (10/22/2010)
DWD Equal Rights Division:  No discrimination on Community Library case.  (10/18/2010)
Need for more space at Twin Lakes/Randall Branch of Community Library.  (8/23/2010)
More disagreements at Community Library.  (5/25/2010)
Maggie Rivals Dewey for Attention.  (5/24/2010)
Board Member Raises Objections to Library Cat.  (5/9/2010)
New Director Hired.  (4/20/2010)
A Library Board Appointment Not According to Hoyle.  (4/13/2010)
Former Library Director Sues for Wages after Firing.  (3/16/2010)
Position Announcement:  Library Executive Director, Community Library, Salem, Wisconsin.  (2/5/2010)
Former Director of Community Library: From Demotion to Dismissal. (1/29/2010)
 Community Library Board Member Wields Machete to Address $1,000 Deficit. (12/06/2009)
New Community Library Representative to Wilmot School Board. (11/11/2009)
Demoted director to fight for job. (10/30/2009)
Library Board confirms interim director. (10/27/2009)
Community Library Soap Opera Continues. (10/23/2009)
Community Library Update: "What we have here is...failure to communicate. (10/09/2009)
Community Library Board of Trustees: Riding Roughshod? (10/01/2009)
Library Board's "Positive Direction" Takes an Immediate Detour. (9/30/2009)
West county library group under fire. (1/29/2009)

Staff Security an Issue at Black River Falls Public Library

Library may beef up security.  (Jackson County Chronicle, 6/15/2011)

Excerpt: The Black River Falls Public Library may soon have tougher security.

Library Director Muriel Gunderson said the library is investigating the installation of a “panic button” system to allow employees to feel safer while working night shifts.

“It would just give a little more sense of security for our staff,” Gunderson said.

“Whether they used it or not, it would be a valuable addition to make our staff feel more safe.”

Gunderson said the idea to heighten security came after some employees informed her they sometimes feel unsafe during their shifts when some patrons become confrontational or say things “that don’t make a lot of sense.”

This has been an issue at least since Gunderson became library director about three years ago.

“I’ve heard this since I’ve gotten here,” she said. “We’re a public access, community building (and) we offer free services.”

No incidents have prompted the library’s now all-female staff to call for law enforcement assistance, but Gunderson said she also plans to discuss some periodic patrol with the department during the library’s evening hours to help ease concerns.