Homer Glen will ask voters about creating a police department

Homer Glen will ask residents if the village ought to discover making a part-time police division through a nonbinding referendum on the April 4 poll.

The Homer Glen Village Board accepted two referendums Wednesday involving public security initiatives. The second will even ask whether or not the village ought to set up license plate reader cameras on public streets to assist legislation enforcement remedy crimes.

Since Homer Glen integrated in 2001, the village has contracted with the Will County sheriff’s workplace to supply its policing companies, at an annual value of $4.5 million, mentioned Trustee Jennifer Consolino, the chair of the village’s Public Security Committee.

Homer Glen is the one municipality in Will County with out its personal police division, and lots of communities supply part-time police along with full-time officers, Consolino mentioned Greater than half the Will County communities that preserve police departments have a smaller inhabitants than Homer Glen, which is simply over 24,500 residents, she mentioned.

If residents approve the referendum, the board would research the feasibility of making and sustaining a police division.

“We’re not eliminating Will County sheriff’s division,” Consolino mentioned. “We’re taking a look at extra help within the type of part-time officers. Will County will nonetheless be supplementing.”

She mentioned whereas Homer Glen is a secure place, there was a rise in retail theft, dwelling burglaries and vandalism in parks.

“We’re placing our finger on the heart beat,” Trustee Ruben Pazmino mentioned. “We’re asking the general public, ‘Hey is that this one thing that you’re remotely desirous about?’ Sure, nice. Let’s undergo with a feasibly research.”

The village has had no complaints in regards to the service supplied by Will County, village supervisor Carmen Maurella mentioned.

“Will County works with us very carefully,” Maurella mentioned. “We now have an awesome relationship.”

He mentioned there are plenty of unknowns together with how a lot it could value to rent officers or purchase police vehicles, whether or not the village would wish a full-time police chief and the way the county and the village would share companies.

The feasibility research, if residents approve, would tackle a few of these questions, Maurella mentioned.

Mayor George Yukich mentioned he was involved a part-time division could be too expensive.

Trustee Beth Rodgers mentioned she want to see some workshops nearer to the election that may assist residents make an knowledgeable resolution.

The board has been finding out buying license plate readers for a couple of 12 months.

Final 12 months, the board accepted shopping for 10 license plate reader cameras, however the firm bumped into delays putting in the cameras, inflicting village officials to reconsider the plan.

Maurella mentioned about half the feedback from residents have been in help of license plate cameras and about half are opposed.

The license plate readers seize pictures of license plates and automobiles, permitting officers to match plates towards stolen vehicles or needed criminals. Data might be shared amongst legislation enforcement departments and supply real-time crime alerts, in line with officers with Flock Security, an organization that makes the cameras.

The cameras are additionally used to assist with reviews of lacking or kidnapped kids or lacking senior residents. Knowledge collected is destroyed inside 30 days except it’s being utilized in an ongoing investigation.

Residents in April will vote for mayor, village clerk and three trustees. Yukich is sure by time period limits and Rodgers and Trustee Nicole La Ha should not in search of reelection.

Trustee Rose Reynders are Clerk Christina Neitzke-Troike are running for mayor.

Neitzke-Troike is main the Integrity for Homer Glen celebration with candidates Candice Bielski for village clerk, and Curtis Mason, Susanna Steilen and Craig McNaughton operating for village trustee. An objection remains to be pending towards McNaughton.

Pazmino, the one trustee in search of reelection, is operating with the Homer Ahead celebration, which incorporates Yvonne Chentnik for clerk, and Christina Clausen and James Roti for trustee. The slate endorses Reynders.

The Village Board additionally voted Wednesday to rent Robinson Engineering to conduct a feasibility research on constructing a wastewater remedy facility. The research will value $18,250, in line with village paperwork.

About 7,000 acres of largely vacant property sure by 151st and 159th streets and Gougar and Cedar roads is within the metropolis of Lockport’s planning space, officers mentioned. Lockport has agreed to supply wastewater remedy at its Bonnie Brae Forest Manor Sanitary District via 2030, however Lockport officials are concerned the Bonnie Brae plant is past its helpful life span.

Homer Glen officers have mentioned a wastewater remedy plant will enable the village to chop its dependence from Lockport.

“Homer Glen wants to have a look at its personal future,” Maurella mentioned.

Michelle Mullins is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.