2nd Walbridge request for dispatching rejected
1/10/2003Northwood officials responded with an indignant “no” last night to a second request from Walbridge for a proposal for dispatching services.
Mayor Mark Stoner and City Council members noted that a similar request from the village had been turned down in November, when it died in Northwood council's safety committee.
“About six weeks ago, a letter was drafted that said `no,'” Councilman Connie Hughes said. “What part of `no' don't they understand?”
Added Councilman Mike Myers, who chairs the safety committee: “It was turned down in committee because it had no support.”
Mayor Stoner said he was angered by the way the dispatching issue was reintroduced.
Instead of contacting him, Walbridge representatives had approached Northwood police Chief Gerald Herman, who out of politeness referred them to the city's administration.
“Now I generally have a pretty good idea of what is going on in the city of Northwood,” Mayor Stoner said at last night's meeting. “But this issue has come through the back door, and I am pretty upset about it.”
On extending dispatching services to Walbridge, the mayor said: “I don't see any benefits to the residents of the city of Northwood. Is there any support on council to review this?”
There was no support. Walbridge Mayor Robert Robson appeared at the end of the meeting and declined to comment. Also present was Ron Liwo, the village's clerk-treasurer, who said: “They not only told us `no'; they told us, `Hell, no.'”
Walbridge Village Council decided Wednesday, at the urging of Councilman Jerry Eversman, to approach Northwood again. Walbridge will lose its two dispatching customers - Lake Township and Rossford - Feb. 3, when the township plans to open its own dispatching center, taking Rossford with it.
Walbridge could shoulder its own dispatching operation alone, at a minimum cost of $175,000 this year, or it could become a customer of Lake Township and pay $4,500 a month. Mr. Eversman maintains that the township's price is too high.