Each year, all departments provide annual reports of operation for City Council review.

Over the next several months, I will be presenting highlights from these reports.

This week’s focus will be on the Police Division of the Public Safety Department.

In 2012, there were 8,590 calls for service, with the complaints occurring almost equally between the day and night shifts.

There were 838 adult arrests and 91 juvenile petitions that occurred; 635 tickets were issued, of which 127 were for parking violations; and there were 91 traffic crashes, of which 14 resulted in injuries.

It is also important to note that the Police Department continues to work with other law enforcement agencies and government entities throughout the area.

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team (CCDET) is staffed with officers from the Dowagiac Police Department and deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

This is the eighth year CCDET has been in operation and is funded through a countywide narcotics millage, which voters approve.

Also, the Police Department completed its 13th year of providing police services to Southwestern Michigan College.

These ongoing contractual relationships provide coordinated cost-effective services in and around the Dowagiac area.

 

Museum Finance Committee

 

The Museum Finance Committee (MFC) met on Wednesday to begin a brainstorming process with the goal of establishing a steady revenue stream to support future operations.

Discussion of appropriate pricing for memberships, lectures, etc., took place.

Additionally, the MFC discussed how to establish and maintain an appropriate endowment fund.

Work continues on a financing plan and they will meet again this week to continue the discussion so a focused financial plan can begin to be implemented during the coming year.

 

Museum update

 

Painters completed the first coat of paint and the electric, fire suppression, plumbing and flooring contractors are back in the building to continue their finishing work on the project.

Also, door frames and doors have been installed.

To date, approximately $400,000 of the $540,000 of anticipated construction costs has occurred.

We look forward to Museum Director Steve Arseneau to begin moving display cases and artifacts into the building the first week of February so  he can prepare for the grand opening in time for the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival.

 

— Kevin P. Anderson

City Manager