The Owen-Withee Police Committee held their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 18 after it had been postponed from March 4.
Under Public Comment, committee chair Pam Jaffke asked about a dog issue in Withee where a dog had attacked someone. There was a suggestion to start the process to deem the dogs a nuisance or vicious depending on how Withee’s ordinance is written. Police are also checking into having the dogs put down.
The issue of a garage for the squad cars was discussed under the Police Agreement. There is a belief on the part of the Owen members of the committee that the garage was given to the police department. Minutes were checked and so far nothing has been found stating that. The police department has been paying the heat and electric bills for the garage, which it was felt implies that the police are taking care of the garage. Committee member Bob Wilczek said he remembers making a motion to give the garage to the police and that it is unfortunate that it isn’t in the minutes. He said the police agreement could be changed, it currently just talks about equipment. Chief of Police Patrick Fehlman said the garage would be an asset. Owen Clerk Tracy Rau said that the committee has discussed the issues with the garage at a number of meetings with it being referenced in police committee minutes multiple times. Wilczek said the cars need to be kept secure but can’t be left in the current garage due to issues with hornets and mice. Fehlman said the agreement could be amended to state that the garage belongs to the police department. Committee member Everett Lindgren said that Withee would prefer to pay rent on the garage and let Owen continue to own it. Committee member Randy Shelton also said that Owen should pay to fix it and then it could be rented. Wilczek said maybe they should just bulldoze it down. Fehlman said that public works could have it. Due to nothing being settled on the issue of the garage, the quotes for repairs and rent were not discussed.
Under the Equipment/K-9 update, it was stated that the 2019 squad has most of the equipment in it. It will be taken in soon for an oil change. They still need a med kit, etc. for it. They had some HVAC issues with the 2016 squad. Chief Fehlman is going to see if S&S in Withee can do the decals on the new squad. There was some discussion of leaving the car unmarked for awhile. Fehlman will be driving the Crown Vic again soon and said that Matthew Prein could use the new squad for working on ordinance issues. A question was asked about K-9 Jimi and how he is doing. He had an infection in one of his paws but other than that is doing well. The police department added sound insulation board to the wall in Officer Scheffler’s office that is shared with the council meeting room. Committee member Jason Thornton asked a question about the officers taking squad cars home. Fehlman said he has a policy that allows them to do that with a list of rules that need to be followed. Officer Scheffler said he felt it was a perk of the job.