The following story was written by Jeff McKinney on November 15, 2011 and posted at nky.cincinnati.com. Go to the link and read the comments that have been posted there.
Highland Heights ends police merger
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – Highland Heights City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to withdraw the city from the Highland Heights Southgate Police Authority.
The 6-0 vote will end a three-year merger agreement between the police departments of Highland Heights and Southgate.
The cities entered into the agreement to combine the departments in 2008, but Highland Heights had a first reading to exit the authority Nov. 1.
Council’s action means that Highland Heights will give Southgate a 90-day notification that it’s dissolving the authority tied to the interlocal agreement, Highland Heights Mayor Greg Meyers said.
Meyers said the city is disbanding mainly because residents have expressed to council and himself they’re not comfortable with the authority. He said residents contend they are not getting the level of service they were getting from the Highland Heights Police Department.
The cities entered the merger to find efficiencies and save money, but a larger-than-anticipated call volume from Southgate is leading to resident complaints of poorer service, driving the push for a split, Highland Heights officials said.
Meyers expects Highland Heights to form its own police department within three months.
Steve Franzen, city attorney for Highland Heights and board attorney for HHSPA, said a specific date has not been set when the merger will end.
Southgate Mayor Jim Hamberg said Tuesday night, “Our city is looking forward to developing the new Southgate Police Department.”
In other action, Meyers and Highland Heights presented a proclamation and a clock gift to Dave Shaw, the city’s planner from 1994 until his retirement in September. Shaw was honored for his efforts in preparing the city’s comprehensive plan and update during the past decade that set the tone for the city’s growth and development.
