Police Advisory Commission Agenda 12-01-1999MINUTES
QUARTERLY MEETING - MONTICELLO POLICE COMMISSION
Wednesday, December 1, 1999 - 7 p.m
Members Present: Dick Slais
Members Absent: Liz DesMarais, Brad Fyle, Dave Gerads and Brian Stumpf
Also Present: Chief Deputy Don Lindell, City Administrator Rick Wolfsteller
1. Review of proposed police department budget for vear 2000.
It was noted that the proposed 2000 budget for police protection did not include the
additional four hours of coverage that the Police Commission members had previously
requested the City Council to consider. In an effort to keep the tax levy for year 2000
near the 1999 level, the Council had previously eliminated the additional hours which
would have added $55,845 to the budget.
Chief Deputy Lindell provided information comparing a few communities in Wright
County that indicated the City of Monticello spends substantially less per capita for
police protection coverage than some other communities. For example, the City of
Buffalo spends $910,000 for their police department which equates to approximately
$94/per person whereas the City of Monticello would be spending approximately $57/per
capita. It is the recommendation of the committee that the administrator request that the
City Council reconsider adding the additional four hours of coverage to the budget. As
an alternative to adding the four hours for the entire year, the Council could consider
adding additional hours starting in April to lower the annual costs.
2. Consideration of recommending installation of save driving signs throughout the
communitv.
Commission members reviewed the.idea of the City installing signs at the exits of various
City public parking lots that would advise motorists to concentrate on driving. The signs
are available free of charge from the Save Communities of Wright County organization
and the installation is. supported by 'the Police Department. It is recommended that the
administrator work with the Public Works Director to find appropriate locations at City
facilities such as the Community Center, library and various parks where these signs
could be installed. If necessary, Council approval for the installation could be sought.
Police Commission Minutes - 12/1/99
3. Discussion on speed limit study results from East Countv Road 39.,
Chief Deputy Lindell presented statistical data from a recent speed study done along East
County Road 39. The posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph and the data supplied did
indicate that up to 20% of the vehicles were exceeding 55 mph in the area. Mr. Lindell
also noted that the deputies who patrol this area did not feel that speeding was necessarily
a problem in the area but the Wright County equipment seems to indicate that many
vehicles do exceed the posted speed limit. He also noted that many drivers have a
tendency to drive at a speed that the road will allow and that possibly even 45 mph in this
area is too low. Further study will be done and this item will again be discussed at a
future commission meeting
Rick Wolfsteller, Ci Administrator
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