COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – There appears to be some grumbling about initial proposals presented by a five-person subcommittee which has met to come up with funding to hire six additional deputies so that the Branch County Sheriff’s Department can go back to around the clock coverage for the first time in over a decade.
Board of Commissioners Chair Tim Stoll, County Commissioner Alan McClellan, Sheriff John Pollack, County Administrator Bud Norman and County Treasurer Steven Rutz serve on the committee.
Their first proposal was presented during the Commissioners work session on June 15. Stoll acknowledged during Tuesday’s Commissioners meeting it has raised some concerns.
He added the goal was to start somewhere with funding 24 hour road patrol.
It’s hoped some kind of decision can be made in September. Norman said a couple of weeks ago the sub-committee discussed using Opioid and ARPA funds but there would also need to be reductions in all of the General Fund and Special Fund departments.
Options that were presented include a request for a Road Patrol millage, restore the previous policy of department heads requesting approval to fill vacancies and reviewing the Cost Allocation Plan.



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