Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Voters approval of a levy lid lift in Palouse has led to discussion by the city council about returning the third police officer to full-time.
The idea was brought up by Councilman Rick Wekenman, the chairman of the Police, Fire and Safety Committee, who talked about it at the Feb. 25 council meeting. It came up after Mayor Michael Echanove announced that the levy lid lift proposal from last November had actually passed, correcting the previous belief that it had failed.
The mix-up was due to a county elections office notification which had required a 50 percent majority instead of 60 percent which Palouse officials understood to be the case.
As a result of the passage, the city will see higher revenues for its twice-yearly property tax collections. The first collection will be in April.
“My feeling is that police officers are very difficult to hire and keep,” Wekenman said, noting that Chief Jerry Neumann will be eligible for retirement in 10 years, and that Officer Joe Merry, who is older, would likely be retired by then.
Officer Brian Dentler’s job was cut to 3/4-time in the fall of 2012 during a budget crunch in Palouse. It was one of several cuts that were made that year.
The job was cut to 75 percent as were the retirement benefits.
In November 2012, the subject of police cuts led to extensive comments from the Palouse townspeople, regarding the police force and whether or not a town of that size needed three officers.
The Palouse officers also cover Garfield in an agreement between the two towns.
“It’s a good show of faith by the city that we’d like to keep Dentler on perhaps for the long run,” Wekenman said.
No action was taken at the Feb. 25 or the March 11 meeting.
At the latter, Councilman Mike Hicks said he was concerned that the council could make a decision based on emotion instead of financial sense.
In the subsequent discussion, Hicks asked Neumann how it affects the city not having the officer those 10 hours per week.
Neumann answered saying that while it takes creative scheduling, he is concerned the town is going to lose a good police officer to another department that can offer a full-time position and full benefits.
To put Dentler back to full time, his salary per month would go from $2,496 to $3,229.
Aside from the rise in property tax funds coming in due to the levy lid lift, other new money to come to the city is from the LED lights project, although the city has no definitive numbers on that.
“We don’t have any numbers yet. We honestly don’t,” said City Treasurer Joyce Beeson.
“We’re just a resolution away,” said Wekenman. “My opinion is that the situation is favorable to have him reinstated.”
He guessed that it will be discussed again at the council’s first May meeting (May 13).
“We want to make sure we’ll be getting the levy lid lift proceeds we’re anticipating,” Wekenman said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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