New snowmobiles for Meredith PD/FD?

[Skip]

Interesting story HERE (http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081209/GJNEWS02/712099855/-1/CITIZEN) in this morning's Citizen about Laconia Harley Davidson hoping to donate two sleds to the Meredith Police & Fire Departments. The sleds would be used to decrease response times to emergencies and help patrol islands that have been experiencing an increase in break-ins, especially during winter months.

[Mink Islander]

From the Citizen: "We can't do everything for every one of our residents," Worsman said, saying Fish and Game already patrols the lake and her own area has an association and security guards after a series of break-ins there. "You can't protect every property from theft. I think we are looking at a gift of two snowmobiles with a cost that will expand the services of this town a lot more than is laid out here."

This isn't about doing "everything for every one of our residents" -- such a riduculous overstatement of the reality here by a local pol. It's more about doing SOMETHING for your island taxpayers who are suffering from a rising tide of property related crime. Winter break-ins on the islands is a growing problem and will likely get worse with the weak economy. I suspect that if 20 homes were broken into within a few month period in a mainland Meredith neighborhood, Ms. Worsman wouldn't be resisting stepped up police patrols in the impacted area even if it cost a bit of overtime. Could it be she's simply against doing anything for those "non-voting taxpayers" -- sure seems that way.

Cudos to Laconia Harley Davidson for making this generous donation to help the town step up it's efforts to patrol the islands in winter.

[secondcurve]

Mink Islander:

You must admit that it is almost impossible to patrol island homes that are in incredibly desolate and dangerous locations, especially during the winter and shoulder season months. I understand your frustration, but I don't think the select women is clueless, I just believe she is a realest. The towns could certainly find a way to protect island homes, but at what cost to the taxpayers? My suggestion to you is to take your valuables from the camp and leave the doors open.

[secondcurve]

Mink Islander:

Based on the below quote from the article it appears that the select woman is also a property owner on one of the islands so that puts a big hole in your believe that non-voting taxpayers are being discriminated against.

"We can't do everything for every one of our residents," Worsman said, saying Fish and Game already patrols the lake and her own area has an association and security guards after a series of break-ins there. "You can't protect every property from theft. I think we are looking at a gift of two snowmobiles with a cost that will expand the services of this town a lot more than is laid out here."

[bilproject]

Bear Island residents had an informal meeting with Chief Morrow this summer about the lack of any security for island property. He was very open to ideas. Island residents had even offered to fund the purchase of snowmobiles. I commend him for finding a business willing to donate the machines. Thank you Laconia Harley-Davidson!!!!!! Ms. Worsman's comment is another slap in the face of Island taxpayers. Bear Island alone average tax bill $4000x194=$776,000.00 to the town of Meredith. Does she really think that a random once a week 2 hour ride by an officer is going to break the bank? At least random trips to the islands by police will make someone think twice about breaking in.
I urge all Island Residents of Meredith to write to town hall demanding they accept this donation of needed equipment. We can not rely on fish and game. I believe they have 2 people for the whole lake.
We get little else for our tax dollars. Docks at Browns and Cattle landing have not been improved or expanded in 30 years.
Maybe if this lack of service for tax dollar discrimination continues a class action tax abatement law suit is in order. Then Meredith will really feel the pinch.

[lakershaker]

Mink Islander:

You must admit that it is almost impossible to patrol island homes that are in incredibly desolate and dangerous locations, especially during the winter and shoulder season months.

That is not when the crime is occuring, and close in islands aren't exactly desolate - at least not according to tax valuation numbers! When it is impossible and unsafe to get to the islands, even the criminals don't go. This is for the time of the winter when it is very easy to access the ice. It is great that Meredith PD is willing, and now able, to patrol hundreds of homes and multiple "neighborhoods" that were otherwise neglected for a large part of the year. I don't remember hearing this criticism of MPD when they acquired a boat to patrol the waters, even though NHMP has multiple patrols during the summer. I wish that Alton would also consider adding a snowmobile, as the same factors and conditions exist at the southern end of the lake.

[fatlazyless]

If the town's five selectmen could unanimously approve their purchase of a $725,000 brand new aerial tower, fire truck in September 2008, then hopefully they can figure a way to accept these two donated snowmobiles from Laconia Harley Davidson which is located in Meredith.

The Meredith Police Dept has a large Boston Whaler that used to be a US Coast Guard boat and the town was able to buy it for one dollar from the United States General Services in about 1995. With a new Mercury 225hp Optimax, it makes an excellent police boat.

For an island taxpayer, maybe it is just a case of 'it's the squeeky wheel that gets greased." Could be a good time to mail one of the five Meredith selectmen; Chuck Palm, Colette Worsman, Miller Lovett, Chairman Peter Brothers, and Bob Flanders a nice, cheerfull, seasonal card and ask them to consider your island security needs.

Addressing it to: pick any selectman's name, Meredith NH 03253, will get it to them. The post office knows. And, they are all general selectmen for the entire town as opposed to one geographic section.

They are all very decent, concerned and committed people who want to do the right thing. What with Meredith Harley's terrific donation, probably just hearing from island tax payers would be a welcome courtesy letter. After all, you all just got a letter in the mail from the town. :)

[KonaChick]

It's funny people's perceptions on things. When I first started reading the story about the donated snowmobiles to the Meredith PD my thoughts were that this could really save lives, what a great thing! While I understand that break ins on the islands are becoming a real problem let's not forget the most important use for those snowmobiles....that they may actually help to save a life. Stepping off of my soap box now, carry on!! :)

[SAMIAM]

I applaud Chief Morrow for creative thinking.......sounds like a perfect solution.What a nice gesture by Laconia Harley.....all we need now is a little gas & oil,a few hours of training (who doesn't know how to drive a snowmobile/) and we're all set.
Until selectman Worsman got into the picture,it seemed like an ideal situation.....a generous local business and and law enforcement work together to solve a problem with minimal impact on taxpayers.
Island residents don't have town sewer,water,streetlights,bus service,police & fire,garbage pickup,but pay taxes equal or higher than the mainland.Seems like it's not too much to ask to send a snowmobile around once a week,or so.

[Bear Islander]

I was one of the residents that met with Police and town officials last summer. During that meeting they admitted they had no way to patrol the ice. Although the Meridith police have a boat, the Marine Patrol are the principal law enforcement on the lake. However when the ice forms their patrols end and the local police have the primary responsibility.

26% of the town of Meredith is water, plus their are many islands only accessible by water. Currently the only way the police can respond to accidents or crimes on the lakes or the islands is by catching a ride from someone else.

The properties on Bear Island alone have a total tax value of more than 55 million dollars. Island residents are as entitled to police protection as any other resident. Some residents that were broken into last winter received a third party bill for transporting the police to and from the island. Talk about adding insult to injury!

There is also the issue of deterrence. As it stands now it's common knowledge that the police have no ability to patrol or respond out on the ice. This makes the islands an easy target for criminals. If, on the other hand, the police have ski mobiles and are able to make a patrol now and then, the criminal element will be aware of that as well.

As it is the local police get a big assist from the State of New Hampshire when it comes to police protection for the islands. If you call 911 when there is no ice, it's the Marine Patrol that responds, not the local police.

Imagine a mainlander calling the police to report a break in. Hours later the police arrive in a taxi. And the homeowner has to pay for the taxi.

[fatlazyless]

Probably the cops will love to get out on island snowmobile patrol. Imagine getting paid to do that? How do I get a job like that?

For like $450 they can easily find a very decent used, enclosed two snowmo trailer on craigslist. Just click on 'for sale' in craigslist nh, enter 'snowmobile trailer' in search and you get a NH list of 20 different trailers. Why buy new, when you save a ton of money with a perfectly good used one? And just leave it at Lovejoy Sands or Cattle Landing, chained to a tree or something. Probably, the big additional expense is liability insurance for a police vehicle...that's got to be high?

...rich or poor, you are better off working for the t:)wn!

Probably, the town only buys new, and never used. Buying used is about all that us pooooooor waterfronters can afford. We suffer so the town can go first class!

[Skip]

...There is also the issue of deterrence. As it stands now it's common knowledge that the police have no ability to patrol or respond out on the ice. This makes the islands an easy target for criminals. If, on the other hand, the police have ski mobiles and are able to make a patrol now and then, the criminal element will be aware of that as well...

You hit the nail right on the head. Many burglaries are committed by local individuals, those who are familiar with the area they intend to steal from. More so when you consider the inherent risk of prowling the islands in winter. The fact that they would know that any snowmobile approaching from the distance could be law enforcement does indeed serve as a deterrent, much as random business checks by a police cruiser accomplish.

And Kona Chick is also correct, the ability to serve as an emergency platform for first responders in isolated areas will greatly improve response times, given the fiscal and time constraints faced by Fish & Game.

One way to minimize increases in property taxes is to encourage public/private partnerships. This is an excellent example of the business and government communities working well together and pooling limited resources.

And thank you BI for taking time this past summer to help plant the seed to consider such a program! :)

[Bear Islander]

Probably the cops will love to get out on island snowmobile patrol. Imagine getting paid to do that? How do I get a job like that?

The Police actually love the idea of having snow mobiles, the only question was funding. Their initial thought was to have one on a trailer at the police station and one at Y-Landing Marina. That is where the Fire Boat is kept now and the owner is a member of the Fire Department.

Incidentally the Fire Boat was originally a gift to the town from Bear Island residents. Admittedly a self serving gift, like giving Victoria Secrets to your wife.

[Sunbeam lodge]

I applaud Chief Morrow for creative thinking.......sounds like a perfect solution.What a nice gesture by Laconia Harley.....all we need now is a little gas & oil,a few hours of training (who doesn't know how to drive a snowmobile/) and we're all set.
Until selectman Worsman got into the picture,it seemed like an ideal situation.....a generous local business and and law enforcement work together to solve a problem with minimal impact on taxpayers.
Island residents don't have town sewer,water,streetlights,bus service,police & fire,garbage pickup,but pay taxes equal or higher than the mainland.Seems like it's not too much to ask to send a snowmobile around once a week,or so.

Whoa! I am a mainland resident. I don't get town water, town sewer, streetlights, bus service, garbage pickups, but I would hope if the house was burning down the fire department would show up with their new arieal ladder. I only reside in Meredith for 6 months and I Pay $16,000.00 in taxes.

[SIKSUKR]

Intesting topic.Sure looks from this Merideth non resident's viewpoint that I can't understand why this isn't anything but a great idea.