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Police issue goes to Gold Hill voters By BUFFY POLLOCK GOLD HILL - About 700 ballots have been mailed addressing a question for which City Council members have long awaited an answer: whether voters will fund a police department. The city has relied on emergency protection only from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department since its contract with the department for full law enforcement services expired in June. Voters will decide in the Sept. 18 special election whether to help fund a two-person department with a five-year, $54,000 bond. City Recorder Tony Paxton said there is money in the current budget to pay for a police chief and equipment. The bond would fund an additional officer and remaining operating costs. "If this measure is adopted, the council would then move forward in getting a chief in here and things set up so, come July 1, we'd be able to hire the additional officer," Paxton said. If the measure is not approved, the budgeted funds could be used to either negotiate another contract with the sheriff's department, hire a private security company or provide some other type of law enforcement, Paxton said. A city poll taken this summer showed the majority of residents favored a city police department. But an informal poll of business owners Tuesday revealed some worries over making such a commitment. "My opinion right now is 50-50," said Don Morrow, owner of Morrow's Hardware. "We need something, but I don't know if we need something for that much more money," he said. "Luckily, I haven't had any real problems - a window broken about March. I called and made a report. That's all you can do, but having a full-time force doesn't mean they could take care of that problem, either." Anna Arnold, co-owner of Miner's Roost (formerly the Gold Hill Hotel), agreed. She said the city should learn from past experiences and not make the same mistakes again, referring to former police chief Katie Holmboe, who was embroiled in controversy before settling with the city over her termination. "It's a Catch-22," said Arnold. "We need something, but you can't put a police chief in and let them have free reign. "If you get a bad one, you have no recourse. There are no checks and balances in that." Arnold said a recent increase in vandalism had forced her to install video surveillance in her establishment. Though leery of a new department, she plans to vote in favor of it. "I didn't feel the city needed police protection until three weeks ago. Now all of a sudden, we have kids out vandalizing every Friday, every Saturday and every Sunday night. They've torn up the park, knocked over the outhouse, ruined the flowers. "The first few times I called, but the response (by sheriff's deputies) is two hours, so I stay up all night worried about my business." Paxton said the council was confident that two full-time officers, supported by properly trained reserves, could provide adequate response to most emergencies on a 24-hour basis. "Right now, we have nothing," Paxton said. "We're residents of the county, the same as any others. "The next step is to wait for the ballot." Voters registered by Aug. 28 can participate in the special election and those who do not receive ballots by Friday should contact the Jackson County Clerk's Office at 10 S. Oakdale, Medford. Ballots must be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the Jackson County Courthouse by 8 p.m. on Sept. 18. Also included on the ballot will be a write-in election for the council seat vacated after former council member Scott Eilefson was appointed mayor. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.