Owen Sound Police did not enter a bid in West Grey’s police costing process.
Ontario Provincial Police did submit one in September that is being reviewed by consultants retained by West Grey for the process.
Owen Sound Police had expressed interest in submitting a proposal but say they did not have enough information from West Grey do so by the deadline.
During a meeting on Oct. 4, West Grey council reviewed a letter sent by Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy.
The letter expressed Owen Sound’s view that it needed more specific information to establish a model to enter a bid to service West Grey.
“Using that information would have allowed the OSPS to tailor a policing plan that would meet and possibly exceed the municipality’s expectations rather than trying to make the community’s needs fit into an already established model,” says Boddy’s letter.
A West Grey staff report says, “despite the attempts from West Grey to ensure OSPS had what they needed to provide a proposal and offering extensions to submit a proposal, neither the municipality nor the WGPS received any requests from OSPS for more time or more information.”
A presentation will be made by consultants to the new West Grey council in January on the OPP bid. A decision about whether to stick with West Grey Police or switch the the OPP is expected come in the spring.
A survey is launching today (Thursday Oct. 27) in West Grey looking for input from residents on policing services in the municipality.
Outgoing West Grey Mayor Christine Robinson, who was defeated in Monday’s election by Kevin Eccles, says the MNP survey will assist in the consulting company’s analysis.
“This feedback, along with one-on-one interviews with stakeholders, will be presented by MNP as part of their analysis,” says Robinson. “Between now and the end of December, MNP will be completing their analysis of the OPP proposal, and the current service provided by the West Grey Police Service.”
The online survey will be live from Oct. 27 to Nov. 10, with hard copies available at all West Grey library branches, the municipal office or by calling the office at 519-369-2200.