Down River – Nov. 5, 2015
The Time Is Now:
If western Clinton County needed an exclamation point relative to the case for regional police protection, that guy dressed in black that hit Renovo’s Santander Bank just after 11:30 last Thursday morning certainly provided it.
The armed robber that ducked into and then came running out of the Erie Avenue bank should be the impetus to get police protection discussions off and running among Renovo, South Renovo and Chapman and Noyes Townships. And the fact he is believed to have fled to an area of Chapman Township not far from the Bucktail school complex only adds to the urgency of the situation.
How bad is it? Here is an unsolicited message I got from a respected member of the western Clinton County community: “It is getting real serious up here. With people moving in, the drug problems running rampant, no support from police either local, state or federal. The area is ready to explode. The locals that care are fed up; vigilante justice is being talked about by everyone. DA doesn’t do anything but plea bargain, teaching criminals that a couple months in jail is just part of doing business.”
This person went on to write that there is no sense of teamwork, that it’s time “they have to begin looking at Renovo as anything west of the Gold Star Mothers Bridge and east of Cooks Run.”
But the good news is, Down River has been told, very preliminary discussions have begun as to how to get some kind of inclusive police protection throughout the greater Renovo area. We’re hoping to hear more in the near term future as the western end of the county grapples with crime without the formal wherewithal to address it.
The traditional way for rural communities in Pennsylvania to go about a regional solution to policing problems is to contact the state. And in one of life’s great coincidences, you’ll never guess who is in charge of overseeing these things on the state level?
Yes, Lock Haven’s very own ex-mayor Rick Vilello sits atop the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services. Contacted earlier this week, Vilello said it would be “awesome” to be involved in the effort to foster regional cooperation within the friendly confines of western Clinton County. He went so far as to use his favorite adjective, saying he would be “excited” about the possibilities.
Vilello said his office has an expert, Ron Stern, amassing 24 years with the state as a local government policy manager, his area of expertise police work.
Vilello gave Down River a quick primer on how the state would be involved. First off, it would require a letter from a majority of elected officials from prospective participating municipalities; he indicated these municipalities have to go on record indicating a good faith interest in studying a regional approach.
Best of all, if you’re an elected official sitting in Renovo, South Renovo, Chapman or Noyes Townships, there is no cost for the state services provided.
All facilitation and negotiation, Vilello said, is provided at no cost. His department would develop budgets and work with the locals to address local needs and goals. And (please perk up your ears, Chapman Township supervisor Tim Horner) the state agency almost always provides some startup money; it varies from money for guns and cars to grants and loans for a building if that is required. It also varies, he said, as to the financial condition of the municipalities involved.
If there is a downside here, you tell me. Most reasonable people would agree that the Renovo area has some problems to overcome; they would also agree that a lot of Renovo area people are now on board in working together to solve these problems ranging from infrastructure to blight.
Crime and drugs a problem? Yes. So what is the better solution? A last resort vigilante approach done in a defenseless vacuum because western Clinton County has but two officers at this point serving only Renovo? With state police protection/response a good half hour away more often than not?
Or a professionally done study that someday in the not too distant future could lead to a regional police force to patrol from Noyes Township through Renovo and South Renovo all the way to the Chapman Township line with Grugan Township?
Reasonable people would agree public safety should be priority number one. No, long term it won’t come without some cost. Elected officials in Renovo, South Renovo, Chapman and Noyes Townships need to do the legwork, run some numbers and then make the determination that the safety and well being of western Clinton County residents is a priority worth pursuing.
The western end of our county needs its Bucktail Medical Center; folks are working to assure it stays in operation. Western Clinton County needs the jobs the proposed Renovo Energy Center will provide; folks are indicating they’re all for that.
Next up is regional police; let’s all work together to make that a reality too.
Election Thoughts:
This column will go into more detail next week, once there is time to digest all the Nov. 3 election results.
Just a couple thoughts at this point:
The favorite endorsement ads we saw were Franco Harris endorsing a woman running for the state supreme court (she lost) and an ad in which occasional provocateur Richard Morris threw his heft behind incumbent Democratic commissioner Joel Long (he lost).
Long had picked up endorsements from several folks across the county but obviously ran an arm’s length campaign from fellow Democrat Paul Conklin (he won). This “every man for himself” approach was in stark contrast to Centre County where Democratic incumbent Michael Pipe did a joint spot with fellow Democratic candidate Mark Higgins (they both won).
