Sheriff to end police pact with Dorchester
As of June 7, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department will no longer be providing the village of Dorchester with regular police protection after the sheriff opted last week to terminate a contract between his department and the village.
Village clerk Sue Ballerstein told the village board at its May 5 meeting that she had just received an email that day from Sheriff Scott Haines, who informed her that his department is giving its required 30-day notice before ending regular patrols of the village.
No reason was given for the termination, Ballerstein told board members.
Reached by phone, Haines said the decision to cancel the contract was purely a manpower issue. With the summer season coming up, he said more deputies will be needed to patrol the county’s campgrounds and local festivals.
Haines said his deputies will still be available whenever the village needs law enforcement assistance; they just won’t be able to write citations for local ordinance violations.
The agreement has been in place since the beginning of the year, when one of two deputies assigned to the village started doing regular patrols and handling complaints while village officials searched for a new local officer or chief.
Law enforcement in Dorchester has been in flux since last July, when longtime police chief Gary Leichtman retired at the same time his part-time officer resigned.
The May 5 meeting included a closed session about possibly hiring a new police chief as recommended by the village’s police committee, but no action was taken in open session.
After hearing about the contract being terminated, village trustees wondered if there would still be sheriff’s deputies available to patrol during Dorchester Days, which is set for June 18-20 this year.
In the past, sheriff’s deputies have provided some additional assistance during the annual festival to help out the village’s police chief.
Haines confirmed that his deputies will still be doing patrols through the village during Dorchester Days.
Other business
_ A request for sweeping the streets before the Dorchester Days car show on June 20 was dropped by the event organizers, so no action was taken.
_ No action was taken on approving a proposed semi-pro wrestling event at Memorial Hall in October. Jenny Halopka, who leases the hall and books all of the events at the facility, said she has not heard any further information since the wrestling promoter first spoke to her.
Board members asked to get more information about the event, including whether security will be provided.
_ Halopka spoke to the board about a list of improvements she would like done at the hall, such as protective paint or wall coverings for the upstairs bathroom and installation of a programmable thermostat to prevent winter freeze-ups.
The proposals were referred to the public works committee, which was assigned to come up with price estimates and recommendations for the full board to consider.
_ The board authorized DPW Clint Penney to seek out bids for 3,000 yards of granite for use on village roads.
_ The board authorized the public works and utility departments to spend up to $13,000 on a new work van.
_ The board voted not to keep the front entryway of the clerk’s office open 24/7 so visitors can access information during offhours. Trustees thought leaving the doors unlocked would create too much of a security concern.
_ The board voted to make the village-owned property at 127 S. Front St. available for sale, with the requirement that any prospective buyer present a written offer and a plan for the property.
Deputy clerk Christine Erikson said she’s heard from at least three different parties interested in buying the property.
_ The board voted to rezone two parcels east of STH 13 — one owned by the village and the other by Meyer Lumber — from light industrial to C-2 general commercial. The board also voted to sell the village-owned parcel south of Meyer Lumber to Brody Halopka, owner of Pac Knife Sales, and authorized village president Kurt Schwoch to negotiate a price and bring it back to the board for approval.
_ The board approved a request from Jeff and Renee Staab to rezone their property on 111 W. Second Ave., from C-1 Central Business to R-2 Multi-Family Residential.
_ The board took no action on approving new addresses for properties owned by MidCountry Homes for future home construction. Schwoch said the village cannot assign an address until a building is constructed.
_ The board voted to create a special account at Nicolet National Bank for an anticipated $85,500 in federal funds the village will be receiving from the American Rescue Plan. The money can be used to cover water and sewer work, along with some specific workers’ wages.
_ The board renewed all of the village’s liquor licenses and operator’s licenses for bars, stores and bartenders.
