The City of Dryden won’t be switching to Provincial Police Service for the time being.
Council voted 6-1 in favour of rejecting the OPP Costing proposal Tuesday night, but left the door open for Council to re-visit the idea.
Mayor Greg Wilson was the lone individual to vote in favour of keeping the OPP proposal on the floor, noting the million dollars in annual savings starting in 2023 is something the City can’t overlook.
Wilson says they are facing three tidal waves, noting “we are just getting out of the first one in the next couple of years. (paying down the municipal debt). We’re just heading into another patch of rough waters, not rough seas, with the province over the next how many years.”
He is also worried of a federal debt in the coming years which will impact the community.
Wilson says the $1-million a year in projected savings is money Dryden doesn’t have now and desperately needs.
Councillor Norm Bush was also leaning towards a possible review when the next Council takes office.
Bush stressed the savings are evident, noting the government is pushing OPP service on all municipalities and it’s only a matter of time until Dryden is impacted.
He pointed out 75% of Ontario communities are policed by OPP and that’s the current provincial direction.
Others on Council weren’t willing to absorb the $4.5-million in up-front costs to switch to OPP service.
Councillor Shayne MacKinnon says he wasn’t prepared to make a decision based on financial speculation adding “I’m not a gambler, and I don’t want to gamble with this. I think we have excellent control and governance on our police service. Our police service responds to our community and the needs of our community in so many different ways”.
Fellow member John Carlucci stated “We have to run the community in a way to offset the financial situation that we’re in. Almost 5 years ago, we were $27 million in debt. Now, we’re at $14 million. That’s not done easily, That’s huge, and I do not want to give up our reserves for OPP transition costs.”
Everyone at the table thanked both the Dryden Police Service and OPP for their commitment and work in the community.
Some on Council stressed they have the best of both worlds right now, so why change it.
To hear the full interview with Mayor Greg Wilson, visit the Audio link below.
