Crestline police returning $16K raised for K-9 unit

CRESTLINE – Funds raised for a Crestline drug dog in past years will be returned to donors.

The council unanimously passed as an emergency a resolution to close the account and return the donations. Police Chief Joseph Butler recommended the move because the K-9 unit will not be created in the foreseeable future, according to the resolution.

Donations in the account amounting to $16,548.50 will be returned to donors indicated in Butler's records.

Councilman Clayton Herold said he reviewed the account and that Butler's list of donors matched the $16,548.50 worth of donations tracked on bank statements.

"I can assure the community all funds Chief Butler collected were accounted for," Herold said. "As far as I'm concerned, the K-9 fund should be resolved."

The account came under controversy earlier this year when business owners started questioning where their money had went, as the village had not purchased a drug dog. The council had not approved the department starting a K-9 unit when funds were being collected.

The resolution was the only order of business the council agreed on.

The council did not pass an ordinance amending the allocation of the village income tax revenue.

At the previous meeting, the council did pass an ordinance establishing a police and fire account, which is slated to receive a half percentage point of the 2 percent income tax. But the council held to a first reading a related ordinance outlining which accounts would receive the remaining 1.5 percent of revenues.

An amended ordinance proposed the funds be split into the general, capital and street funds, at 86 percent, 5 percent and 9 percent respectively. Councilman Gene Toy said he disagreed with the move.

When residents voted to increase the levy to 2 percent, they did so with the understanding that 70 percent of funds would go to the capital account and the remaining 30 percent could be used elsewhere. The council should uphold that promise, he said.

"I don't think it's right what we're doing," Toy said.

Toy, Herold, Tina Swartz, Alan Moore, and newest Councilwoman Joy Miley voted against the ordinance. Allen Laferty voted "yes."

The council also did not approve an ordinance authorizing Village Administrator Marc Milliron to enter into a $101,300 agreement with Kelstin Inc. to perform Oldfield Road and Coyer Road improvements.

Among thanks and congratulations to various village groups, Butler commended three of his officers for "going above and beyond the call of duty" while handling a well-being check during the holiday weekend.

A 91-year-old woman had been left in her home without food, medication or care while her caretaker was on vacation. The officers took the woman to the hospital and then pitched in money to buy her groceries to last her until her caregiver returned, he said.

kdurbin@gannett.com

419-521-7205

Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin