HomeMy WebLinkAboutLocal Government Review Minutes (7)LAUREL LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION
JUNE 13, 1995
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Steve Cosner, chairman Joe Bradley
Bud Johnson Ron Marshall
OTHERS PRESENT:
Darrell McGillen Mike Atkinson
Mike Zuhoski
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Minutes of the
May 9, 1995 meeting and the May 22, 1995 meeting were read and
approved.
Correspondence. Minutes were received from both the
Yellowstone County and the Billings Local Governmental Review
Commissions. Attached.
Police Chief Mike Atkinson spoke to the commission on the
Laurel Police Department. He stated that he has a current budget
of $622,000. He indicated that his budget has stayed basically
the same for the past five years. He indicated that his biggest
problem is manpower. He distributed a letter from the police
chief in Conrad. This letter indicated that Laurel has the
lowest ratio of police officers of cities in similar size in
the state. He stated that the department desperately needs
a ninth officer to keep up with the demand. Ideally, he could
use three more officers. At present, the department is at a
point where some incoming calls are refused due to the lack
of manpower. One of the biggest problems he mentioned is that
a lot of the problems that occur are a slopover from Billings.
If Laurel was located geographically in a location such as Big
Timber, his present sized force would be adequate. He stated
that in addition to local problems, the department also assists
the County and Highway Patrol. Discussion was held on
consolidation of law enforcement, particularly dispatch. Mike
said, if such were to happen the level of service would again
drop. Mike gave an overview of the current retirement system
and it's faults.
Fire Chief, Darrell McGillen gave an overview of his
department. He .stated that he has an operating budget of
$105,000, and that at present it is adequate. He does not favor
consolidation due to the fact that the level of service would
drop. Darrell indicated that if Laurel were to become a Second
class city by population the City of Laurel would have to have
a fully paid Fire Department, with a minimum of two engine
companies and twenty four fully paid firemen. He stated that
currently his biggest problem is housing for storage of
equipment.
Committee discussed next meeting of June 27th. It was
was decided to ask Larry Herman, Sue Blaskovich and Vicky Metzger
to attend.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Cosner, chairman
TOM HAMMERBACKER
Mayor
MICHAEL EVE
City Clerk(Treasurer
MARY ANN RIES
City Judge
GARY DENT
Police Chief
April 19, 1993
CITY OF CONRAD
4111/2 SOUTH MAIN
CONRAD, MONTANA 59425
Chief Mike Atkinson
Laurel Police Dept.
P.O. Dox 10 -
Laurel, Montana 59044
Dear Mike:
PETE HAUER
BYRON GRUBB
HUGH LARSON
WALTER WAITE
Aldermen
First of all, I would like to thank you for responding to the
survey that our department sent to you recently. I am enclosing
a copy of the results for your information. I believe that the
data provided is useful due to the number of responding agencies
and the common elements shared by those agencies.
The departments involved are as close to the same size and serving
the same population as possible. Most agencies have similar duties
and background, although Whitefish and other communities-,are heavi-
ly impacted by the tourist trade.
Salary highs, lows, and averages are provided to'allow each agency
to see where they stand in relation to the other communities of`.
common size in the State. I hope you find this information inter-
esting and useful.
Thank you again for your participation. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at any time..
Ah erely,
y Dent
of Police
City of Conrad
P.S. I thought that this survey might not be much use for you for
salary negotiations, but it does show in your favor as far
as manpower. Laurel has the poorest officer per population
ratio of the departments surveyed.
POLICE DEPARTMENT SURVEY
Considered Factors:
Communities with a population over 1500 and below 6000 people.
Communities served by their own Police Department.
21 departments surveyed, 19 responding.
Salaries, population/officer ratio, manpower, insurance benefits.
Population Data:
Department serving the largest population - Laurel - 5686*
Department serving the smallest population - Ronan - 1530*
Average population of 19 communities surveyed - 2958
Manpower Data: a,'/ I-a0? e ?v
H A S G "n e
Department with the most officers - Whitefish - 12
Department with the fewest officers - Columbus - 3 --?-o?. ,S-
Average number of officers per 19 communities surveyed - 6.58
Ratio of officers per 100 population. The 19 communities average
1 officer for every 470 persons in their community.
High Ratio - 1 officer for every 171 people - East Helena
Low Ratio - 1 officer for every 710 people - Laurel -
Salaries:
Starting Patrolman:
High -- 11.38 per hr.
Low - 6.92 per hr.
Average - 9.16 per hr.
Senior Patrolman:
High - 12.00 per hr.
Low - 8.20: per hr.
Average - 10.12 per hr.
Patrolman after probation:
High - 11.78 per hr.
Low - 7.50 per hr.
Average - 9.66 per hr.
Sergeant
High - 14.73 per hr.
Low - 8.50 per hr.
Average - 11.15 per hr.
(5 of the 19 agencies o not have
this position)
a
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i
• c 3
Photo oy Donne Kilpatrick
F lice chief reviews case file system =cc
Laurel police k i
Bloom,
li m is oci. ?.
4 ra a
ofesslan .{ y..:
chief
u rel p ?z
tor La
~z . the paper work had not been ; .9 r=
' ATRICK completed Bloom Bloom has said. implemented the
Lpi1 U
For The Gazette Since B w • -y,
_'- and arrests _ 2 s„
e ..
nw policies, investigations ``i` . LAUREL -It's been over five are becoming more consistent, he said,
loom assumed the giving the operation more efficiency,
months since Mike B
duties of'Laurel's Chief of Police and Officers know where they stand and it
new policies and
in that time many makes it easier for the officer to
procedures have been established in an function. "He knows where he stands
effort to attain Boom's own goal of with management in relation to duty :-:. w.w_ c
-?
, said. ° °
"professionalism in the department and conduct " Bloom
.' Bloom ?' a? ° 3
"We are about a month and a half "I can tell it's working, c
of the
r ahead of schedule" Bloomsaid o said. "We are getting good quality
. ,. ! ., _
goals he set when he arrived in Laurel arrests; case completions are very
in July. good ; and morale are good within the
•t A new case file system which department, he said. - ~; _ - -
department +' ?•
:Y "seems tangible and retrievable" is' And when your police well you receive more
being used. "It is working well is functioning -
I Bloom said of the new system which input from the townspeople. ,We are
was started two months ago. It enables. receiving more reports and complaints
` the department to have cases and from the community. It's causing us r
he . more work, but it's what we want,"
complaints in some order to provide
for good follow-up investigations, Bloom said. : _:,i:,' = ; •_-'-.';; .. _ -_ -
explained. At the present time there are eight
Bloom is an advocate of education full-time police officers. For a city the a ----
' and knows the importance of keeping
officers updated with the latest size of Laurel, the amout of activity,ri 3
and for the safety of police officers, th
cµ_ .
developments in the law enforcement more officers "would make it
field. comfortable," Bloom said.
So far this year officers have plans for the future include ?
attended school, an ars,on an school, qualifying with firearms twicea year,
and one getting the jail in shape (it was dosed .
intermediate e school, an arson
two months ago by order of the health
ay a seminar. special department) and continuing
• `Dispatcheerrs rs h have attended • ? to work on •' -
schooland a se vnar. the "prof essionalism.'
Next year plans call for officers to "I still have some policies to
attend 12 different schools. Money is
budgeted and is available in the police establish," Bloom said. "The city jail ,y
needs more work. For the past two
months we have been painting and
reserve fund. That cant be u used for _ and we have replaced
but training, patching holes
explained. In the near future, two bug-infested mattresses and blankets.
officers will be going to managemeant r: We are now waiting for another
school and a first line school for inspection form the health
supervisors. department," Bloom said.
All Laurel police officers are now ;._ "our ground work has been laid,
-F certified with the state- All now it is just a matter of letting the
havecompleted the requirements for system work."
1--n mortification, but until recently _
Where are the
1 Highest Crime
Communities
T }" in Montana?
?- This list is based on re-
i; ported crimes in 1993 as com-
piled by the Montana Board of
5l\.`` _ _ Crime Control. Given the slim
relationship to population and a
'
? relationship to tourism, it's sur-
?a
•r
/1 prising to all of us.
1, Kalispell 11,744 crimes
2. Great Falls 8,972
./ 3. Whitefish 8676
s
•? 4.'W. Yellowstone 7,979
'
, 5. Flavi e 7,852
? I
r
-.
7. 1ami ton 7;390
- 8. Missoula 6,898.
J ( 9. Livingston 6,641
` 10. Polson 6,441
11. Helena 6,171
3. Miles City 4,589
14. Lewistown 4,458
15. St. Ignatius 4,050
16. Sidney 4,041
17. Red Lodge 3,393
18. Manhattan 3,349
19. Dillon 3,260
20. Columbia Falls 3,045
21., Belgrade 2,929
For '93 Burglaries
1. Billings. 1,375
2. Great Falls 500
3. Missoula 274.
4. Helena 175
5. Kalispell 75
6. Havre 71
7. Miles City 46
8. Livingston 43
9. Whitefish 34
10. Lewistown 21
11. Sidney & Polson 20
12. Dillon & Belgrade 18