SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH (Toledo News Now) – Springfield Township has obtained a preliminary contract with the Lucas County Sheriff's Office. Before they sign it, township officials said they want to make changes.
The five-year contract would have the township pay nearly $670,000 for the services next year. The cost will increase by 3 percent every year after that.
Springfield Township's administrator Leslie Kohli said there are a few issues they have with the contract.
The first issue is the length of the contract. The last contract was for only a year. Township officials feel in five years, they will need more than one deputy, preferably three on the road.
The sheriff's department is using a township building as their substation. That cost Springfield Township at least $10,000 last year. They would like the sheriff's department to take that cost into consideration.
Also, maintenance of vehicles costs around $20,000 a year. The township has a garage and would like to maintain the vehicles themselves.
Finally, township officials said they think there are some items in the contract that the county would pay for, even if Springfield Township was not contracting them for the sheriff services.
"We are pleased with the sheriff's department. This really has nothing to do with whether or not we're pleased with the work they're doing. This is really more about utilizing the taxpayer money and getting the most that we can for what we're paying," explained Kohli.
Negotiations have not started yet. Kohli said if they cannot come to an agreement, the township might have to start considering other options.
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