What do Milton Township police do?
MILTON TOWNSHIP — The Milton town chairman gave a citizens committee black-and-white questions about the town’s police department and court, but the committee didn’t always find black-and-white answers, it wrote in its report.
The town lacks a job description for the police chief and the town’s police officers, making it difficult for the committee to determine what would happen if the town eliminated the department, it wrote.
Chairman Bryan Meyer appointed the committee in May to study the police department and court. A group of residents asked the town to hold a referendum about eliminating the departments at the annual town meeting in April.
The committee found the town has several options if it chooses to dissolve or change the police department, including:
-- Reducing the department to a single member whose job would be to enforce town ordinances.
-- Contracting with another law enforcement group such as the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Fulton Police Department or City of Milton Police Department to patrol Milton Township.
-- Hiring an off-duty police officer to have on-call as needed.
The town could contract with another municipality, such as Rock County or the city of Milton, to handle court matters, the committee found. If it used the county court system, the county would charge $5 for each citation processed and would not return the fine money.
Larry Clift, committee chairman, suggested the town board create a clear job description for its police officers and chief. Then, the board could decide if it wants to keep the department the same, eliminate some job duties or pass duties off to other people or organizations.
“Establishing the priorities is what I think it really boils down to,” Clift said.
The town board will discuss the report and a potential referendum at its meeting Monday. The board has until July 29 to schedule a referendum for the September primary election and Sept. 24 to schedule a referendum for the November general election, County Clerk Lori Stottler said.
Meyer said he’s not opposed to a referendum, but he wanted the town board to know all the options before discussing it.
“I’ve never disagreed with the interest in having a referendum, but I didn’t agree with just blindly holding one just because there was a request for one and not knowing what it would serve,” he said.
He said he’s confident the town board now has the facts to make an educated vote.
“If the town board votes Monday night to initiate a referendum, they should feel competent that they understand what they’re doing,” he said. “Not only why, but what they’re doing.”
IF YOU GO
What: Milton Town Board meeting.
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Where: Milton Town Hall, 23 First St., Milton.
FINDINGS
Here are some other findings from the committee appointed to study the Town of Milton Police Department:
-- The police chief puts in about 1,300 hours a year (25 hours a week). When the department is at its full staff of three officers (besides the chief), those officers put in about 850 hours a year. That puts an officer on duty about 25 percent of the time.
-- Chief Tom Kunkel handles many responsibilities not normally associated with police work. He receives $1,000 a year to serve as zoning enforcement officer. He also handles town hall rentals, runs background checks on bartender license applications and records town hall meetings. In the past, he has served as peacekeeper during tax disputes and purchased and installed the town’s computer system, he wrote in a memo to the committee.
He has not had a pay raise since 1996, he wrote. He receives $7,500 a year, including the $1,000 for zone enforcement. He also receives an additional $1,200 a year to clean town hall.
Jul 17, 2008 at 7:13 a.m.
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How is it that Tom puts in 25 hours a week in the Town of Milton, when him already works full-time (plus over-time and on-call) for the County in addition to other side jobs? He must not sleep. I believe that all but one of the Town's officers are also County officers. Additionally, it is my understanding that all County officers must be available for emergencies, thus the possibility of them being pulled away from the Town (the floods for example).
Jul 14, 2008 at 10:55 a.m.
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Kudos to Rock Cty Sheriff Dept for being here during the flooding on Charley Bluff 24/7. I never saw Town of Milton???
I did not see Sue Gavigan's name mentioned in this article. Where did you find Sue's numbers as I haven't seen them published? I'd like to review as well.
Jul 13, 2008 at 6:36 a.m.
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Beachsexton Sue Gavigan gave you a chance to "debate" the issue of the Milton Town Police referendum. This is what you said should be done - am anxiously waiting for your reply. Please let all of us know where she "skewed the facts" or "misled us" and where your information comes from to prove your point. If you have talked to her personally since she wrote in please let us know what you found out also. (Love my town and am still looking for that "popular playgroud".)
Jul 12, 2008 at 6:56 a.m.
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1919eternal I'm glad that you brought up Tom (Town of Milton's Police Chief). As you stated it is the position not Tom that are on the line. In the next two sentences you go on to say that he would lose the job that he loves. Many of us grew up with Tom and know how he loves police work but don't feel that as taxpayers we have the means to support these double services any longer. I realize in a town as small as ours it is hard to seperate the man from the job but sometimes as adults we have to make tough decisions. Seems this is one of those times. Other than being a full time deputy for the Rock County Sherriff he works for the Rock County Boat Patrol, part-time officer for the City of MIlton and as he has mentioned, cleans the Milton Town Hall all while working 1300 hours (his figure) a year for us. There is plenty of opportunity for off-duty police officers to persue the love of police work but we can no longer afford this double service.
Jul 12, 2008 at 4:25 a.m.
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Im with sarah b!!!!
Jul 11, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.
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This would be a rare case of where the taxpayers actually get a good bargain compared to what they pay. I know we arent putting Tom on the stand here but the actual position itself. However, if the position goes, so does he. This is a guy who really loves police work and anything to do with protecting citizens. Keep in mind while doing all of Town Of Miltons police "Stuff", he is also a Rock County Sheriff deputy and not too recently was a fire inspector for Harmony and Town of Milton. You dont find this kind of dedication these days, especially from a guy who also has a family!!! The Town of Milton needs a police dept. I dont want to have to say " I told ya so" after its gone and to get another one will cost twice as much. Theres an old saying " you don't know what you've got till it gone"
Jul 11, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.
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who cares let the township people be. they are not asking for a raise. they just do there job and go home and not complain. unlike other people in this blog. have a good day!
Jul 11, 2008 at 10:01 p.m.
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In this article Meyer states that he wants the Town Board to make an educated vote on holding a referendum. I was at the June meeting and he must have forgotten that the board already voted then to hold a referendum in November. For all of you who plan to attend the meeting on Monday night be sure to listen to the secretary's report to see who voted for this. If he truely wanted us to know the facts he would have allowed Sue Gavigan to be on the fact finding committee as he knew she had been working on this for 4 years. Also I don't understand what the fact that the chief of police gets paid for cleaning the town hall got to do with anything about the police department. I will be attending the meeting Monday night and hope many of you will be too. In the mean time I will be out looking for things to do in the "popular playground" that I have missed for the many years I have lived in the Town of Milton.................
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.
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Bring back Brett!
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:30 p.m.
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Optimism.
I don't know how we could possibly have a bank robbery for THE TOWN OF MILTON HAS NO BANKS!! Please reread the article-it is about THE TOWN OF MILTON NOT THE City of MIlton.
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:23 p.m.
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Beachsexton,
There is much incorrect information in your comment. First, the price of the police office is not included in the figures that I have given out, even though it probally should be. Where did you get your information that it was included-maybe you should question this. As for the purchase for the squad car, of course that would go in the police budget as if we did not have a police department we would not need a squad car. If you feel this is unfair where would you suggest it should go in the budget. In the towns year end finiancial report it is listed under the police budget as that is where the money was spent.
My numbers have come directly from the Town of Milton public records that can be obtained by any citizen.I would be more than happy to share these findings with anyone! I have four years of records from, the Town of Milton for the following: court records, police timesheets (which include the officer who worked, miles and hours), monthly police reports, year end police reports, monthly treasurers reports and year end financial reports. In addition, I have the number of calls answered by Milton Township police and also the number of calls answered by the Rock County Sheriff Department. This information came from the Milton Police year end report and the Sheriff's department records.
Apparently you haven't been watching the local and national news. G.M. is closing and in response to that many other area job markets are drying up, people are losing there homes, food prices are soaring and gas prices are $4.00 or more a gallon. I wish I could share your optimism, but I don't think that any time soon we are going to become a "popular playground". It is time for us to tighten our belts and make any cuts that we can make in our budgets most people are having to do this at home-shouldn't we make sure we are using our tax dollars as wisely as possible.
I was elected by the citizens of the Town of Milton to do a job and I fully intend to honor the trust that they have put in me. I will not stand behind a user name because I know that my facts are right and I am more than willing to share them with anyone who is interested. I challenge you to come forward with your own name and prove to me where I have "misled or skewed the facts". In closing I would like to say that if this were in any way A SAFETY ISSUE THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION, WE SHOULD KEEP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. ROCK COUNTY IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE US WITH EXCELLENT AND PROFESSIONAL 24 HOUR 7DAYS A WEEK SERVICE!!!
Sue Gavigan
Town of Milton Supervisor
(608)868-2482
Jul 11, 2008 at 8:36 p.m.
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say hello to another footville type bank robbery. milton is certainly too big to be unmanned.
Jul 11, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
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If you personalize this, of course, everyone is going to say yes, but we have too much government in Wisconsin, as numerous studies show with people doubled up on the same duties. We should dissolve these township police and absorb them into the Sherif's department. We should too look into major consolidations of counties, as Wisconsin has too many counties (as again studies have shown).
Jul 11, 2008 at 10:26 a.m.
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Sounds like Milton Township has someone that does a lot of work for a small amount of money. I think it's the little stuff that people take for granted that will be missed most if they get rid of Mr. Kunkel. His rounding up of sandbags, sand, a location to dump and fill sand, and his support in the aftermath of the floods are fine examples. No one is perfect, but this is not about perfection. The crew he puts out does a great job for a small cost. People need to stop looking at a police department like it should have a profit motive. It is not a business. There are costs associated with providing this service. Sure, costs can be trimmed, but for the most part they are steady.
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The numbers Mrs. Gavigan uses are a bit opportunistic in nature. They are skewed due to the inclusion of the construction of the office and purchase of the squad car. Now that they have that the yearly costs are again much lower. To have a fair argument, she needs to divide the actual costs of the one time, major purchases up and spread out over the expected life of the car and office. She knows this, and has chosen to leave depreciation, and realized cost out of her "facts" in an attempt to sway people to see it her way. The bottom line is there needs to be more defined roles, better communication, and more informed public.
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Mrs. Gavigan is on the right path in this area, but her (and others) extreme views are creating a mess. The Town of Milton can, and should have a debate on this. The debate should focus on the options, changes the people are wanting, and the amount of money the people are willing to pay. The extreme views, slanted arguments and stories, and the siding-up is the real problem here. Act like civil people and work on solving the issues at hand, considering all facts, and then make educated decisions.
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Unlike the rest of the area, Newville and the greater Milton area is going to experience strong growth. With taxes being raised to outrageous amounts in IL, WI will become an even more popular playground. Let's be fair to all sides.
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There are valid points each brings to the table. This is not, and should not, be a win/lose fight. If done correctly, most everyone should come out winning in the long run.
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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All of that for $9700/year? You guys are crazy to even consider letting this guy go. Who do you think is going to do all of that work? I'll bet that many of you think that you will, but when it comes down to actually doing it, it won't get done. And if you think that the Sheriff's Department is going to do any of that stuff, well, I'd rather not say.
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
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All that for the love of the community! Kudos!
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