Another town offering police for Hainesville

As Hainesville contemplates whether to continue its village police department or close it and contract out for service, a third bid has surfaced from a neighboring town offering to do the job for possibly the lowest cost.

Hainesville will hold a town-hall meeting regarding future police service at 7 p.m. today at the Northbrook Sports Club, 160 Sports Club Drive. Residents will get to speak after an introduction of village officials and a police survey review.

Officials estimate it would cost $1.3 million in the 2010-11 budget year starting May 1 for staffing and construction of a 4,000-square-foot station. The police currently operate from village hall.

Until last week, Hainesville had competing bids for contract police service from the village of Grayslake and the Lake County sheriff's office. Total police costs would be $711,782 with Grayslake or $791,566 with the sheriff for 24-hour-a-day coverage.

But neighboring Round Lake Park has entered the derby, submitting a proposal to provide round-the-clock coverage for $540,000 to $583,000 annually, Mayor Jean McCue said Monday.

Hainesville received protection from Round Lake Park from 1999 to 2008. A dispute over service costs led Hainesville to launch its own force, which has a chief, sergeant and three full-time officers augmented by eight part-time officers.

McCue said Round Lake Park was paid about $240,000 annually to cover Hainesville. She said she's hopeful Hainesville will consider forging a relationship with her village again.

"There was nothing personal or anything. It was all money," McCue said of Round Lake Park and Hainesville parting ways in 2008.

Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto said Round Lake Park may at first glance appear cheaper than Grayslake and the sheriff's office, but more details are needed. She said the first chance for Hainesville trustees to discuss Round Lake Park's offer will be at a March 9 meeting.

"This is coming very late in the eleventh hour of this undertaking," Soto said.

McCue said Round Lake Park would add Hainesville to its officers' beats. She said Round Lake Park's experience in covering Hainesville should be a consideration.

Soto said a decision on Hainesville's police service should come by the end of March.

Cost estimates for keeping Hainesville police or contracting with Grayslake or the sheriff's office were provided to residents and businesses in the January survey. Round Lake Park's bid was not on the table at the time.

State requirements revised in 1999 forced Hainesville to shut its part-time police department. Instead of paying for officers to undergo more training as mandated, Hainesville opted to link with Round Lake Park.