County board to consider college’s request for dedicated deputy.

County board to consider college’s request for dedicated deputy.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

#MasonCountyNews.

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners will consider a request by West Shore Community College to post a sheriff’s deputy on the college’s main campus when the commission meets on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Mason County Courthouse.

WSCC President Scott Ward made the request to Sheriff Kim Cole asking for a deputy to be posted to the college during the college’s fall and winter semesters each year. Cole has endorsed the request. If approved, WSCC will cover 100% of the deputy’s wages between Sept. 1 through April 30. In addition, the college will pay 66.67% of the vehicle and equipment expense along with a 3% administration fee that is multiplied by the sum of wage and fringe benefit costs for all deputies in the contract, all approved overtime hours, other expenses, plus vehicle and equipment expenses. The deputy will be under the supervision of the sheriff.

In 2018, voters of Mason County approved a request to create a special millage to fund four additional road patrol deputies. At that time, it was reported that the cost of a deputy is between $167,818 to $176,719, which include wages and benefits, the purchase of an additional patrol car per deputy and equipping that deputy with weapons, protective gear, radio, computer equipment, and other items.

The agreement is similar to those created by the City of Ludington with Ludington Area Schools and most recently the City of Scottville with Mason County Central Schools. In those cases, the schools cover 75% of the total cost of the school resource officer, who works full time in the school during the school year and then works for the respective police department during school vacations.

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