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Make police-station case clearer
(by Barbara Christian - May 13, 2009)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Make police-station case clearer
We hope, after town leaders stop scratching their heads, they will use them to find out why voters said no to a much-needed police station. Yes, $5.4 million is a big number, but it would not be wise to write off the near miss vote to the economy alone. What really bugged the voters?
When our leaders do get around to deciding what to do next, may we suggest they tear a page from the Chagrin Falls School Board's play book. Before putting the police station back on the ballot in November, they should find out if there were other reasons why voters said no.
School folks underestimated voters' strength at the polls. After all, a school issue had not lost in decades, so why not be confident? When reality outran confidence, the board picked itself up, assessed the damage and vowed not to take voters for granted. They made their message clear, and they made cuts.
Then the board went out and proved its fiscal responsibility, played up the schools' awards and lofty standing and made sure those who supported the levy went to the polls and voted for it.
The Friends of the Chagrin Falls Police should follow suit. Play up the credentials and schooling of our police officers. List awards and the services and programs provided by the department. Then tell voters how much more they could do in a new facility, including a crisis command center, which does not now exist in Chagrin Falls.
And there are bound to be questions which will need answers.
Question: Why do we need a new police station when we already have a good department, low crime and terrific response time? Answer: Because none of us want to work in the conditions our police officers are forced to every day. It's inefficient and demeaning. Our men and women deserve better.
Question: Aren't the officers mostly on the road, not in the station? Answer: Yes, but they still need to write reports and conduct interviews, and most of this is done on the table in the kitchen, because there is no other place.
Question: Can't it suffice? Everyone works in imperfect conditions. Answer: Because the kitchen is a pass through between the police department and Village Hall without privacy or security. It's inappropriate to conduct police interviews in a space permeated by the odor of microwaved dinners past.
Also: Village leaders should revisit the early criticisms of the proposed police station -- its location away from the center of town and its two-story design. Another option may be in order if the architect is willing to consider a basic redo under his current contract.
Also: If election rules permit, a survey should be sent with the next water bill. If it's anonymous, the answers will be enlightening.
Also: The Chagrin Falls police Web site was a good idea, but tweaking wouldn't hurt. For example, this selling point was all but buried: An expiring sewer levy, which costs $130 a year for a home valued at $250,000, will expire in 2012, effectively cutting the police bond and levy to $85 a year.
Finally, supporters' presence outside the polling place would have gone a long way toward getting fence sitters to vote yes. That is a must, in our humble opinion.
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