18th
Most residents OK with current service
© Michelle Bollman
Published Summer 2007, Suburban News Publications
The Liberty Township Board of Trustees released the latest results of the township’s law enforcement survey during last week’s board meeting.
The new version of the survey includes additional includes results for 278 additional respondents whose surveys were either received after the original cut-off date or who were given extra time to respond after the deadline.
“The additional returns were a result of residents mailing after the cut-off time or residents no receiving surveys to begin with and being given additional time to respond,” said Tom Jones, chairman for the committee, in a letter to the board of trustees.
As of May 9, the total number of surveys received by the township is 1,219, which translations into 20.6 percent of the surveys the township originally sent out to residents. The total number of residents in the township who were sent the survey is 5,916.
The law enforcement survey results included six questions in which the township asked residents about the need for township law enforcement; if they were pleased with the current law enforcement provided by the county sheriff; and if they would support an additional property tax levy to support the cost of law enforcement.
About 62.7 percent, or 742 people, said they believe Liberty Township has adequate law enforcement. However only 47.7 percent, or 578 respondents, said they have had a situation in which a Delaware County sheriff’s deputy was needed, and 74.9 percent of township residents said the responsiveness of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is acceptable.
A total of 542 respondents, or 46.2 percent, told the township that it should contract for additional law enforcement, and 44.8 percent, or 527 people, said they would support a 0.5- to 1.0-mill levy to cover the costs of additional law enforcement.
Participants also were asked if the township should hire the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office or the Powell Police Department for the job. The residents were split, with 524 votes, or 50.7 percent of the respondents, saying they would prefer Powell police.
At last week’s meeting, the board of trustees thanked the township staff for their hard work in completing and compiling the survey. However, board members said the results were what they expected them to be and they do not plan to take action on the matter in the near future.
