Hainesville seeks resident feedback on keeping police dept.

Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto says she's heard skepticism from residents, but she's sincere in wanting them to help determine if the village's 2-year-old police department should be disbanded.

Residents and businesses last week began receiving a survey with cost comparisons for continuing village police protection or returning to contract service. A town-hall meeting on the issue is set for Feb. 23.

Soto said she's seen commentators on an Internet message board devoted to Hainesville portray the survey as biased. She said accusations she already wants to disband it are off base.

"It is not a done deal," Soto said Monday. "I want to make it very clear."

Hainesville received protection from the Round Lake Park Police Department from 1999 to 2008. A dispute over the cost of services led Hainesville to launch its own police department.

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

In the survey, the projected cost for a new 4,000-square-foot police station and staffing is listed at $1.3 million for the 2010-11 budget year starting May 1. Soto said Hainesville can't continue having police based at village hall because of space problems.

By comparison, total police protection costs would be $711,782 by contracting with Grayslake and $791,566 through the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Hainesville village board members will make the final decision on the department's fate.

Business and residents are asked in the survey if Hainesville, Grayslake or the Lake County sheriff would best meet the need for police service. The survey is due by Jan. 29.

Hainesville's full-time force is comprised of a chief, sergeant and three officers. The village also uses eight part-time cops.

Meanwhile, Wallace Frasier has replaced Fred Heidecke as Hainesville's police chief. Soto said Heidecke, hired as interim chief in August, departed because his Lake County sheriff's police pension would have been reduced if he worked beyond the 600 hours he logged for Hainesville.

Frasier, who was not reappointed as Lakemoor's top cop in May, received a six-month contract from Hainesville in early December. Soto said Frasier was selected, in part, because of his experience in a similar village.

"We were very lucky to find Wally," Soto said.

Frasier said he hopes the job develops into a full-time permanent post.