By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - You can't go anywhere in Niles Township without hearing residents talking about the future of the township's police department.
A group of citizens is taking talking about the future of the department to a different level. They have formed the Niles Concerned Citizens which is dedicated to getting the Aug. 2 millage passed in order to save the township's police department.
On Wednesday evening the small, but passionate group held a meeting at the Niles Law Enforcement Complex to talk about how to get the community involved in the campaign to get the millage passed.
All of the Niles Township board members were invited to the meeting, but none attended.
Starting today the group will be going around to township businesses and community members to help raise funds to promote voting yes on the millage. "The funds we raise will go strictly to the campaign," said Tammy Youngs.
One point the group is stressing is that Niles Township needs 24 hour a day coverage, not 24 hour coverage on certain days of the week.
As the group travels around the township seeking donations for signs, fliers and radio ads, they will be distributing a letter educating others why this millage needs to be passed.
Niles township encompasses 43 square miles with 13,000 residents, which makes it one of the largest townships in the state of Michigan. The township is also continually growing.
Currently the department is funded through the township's general fund. Few townships fund their police departments through this manner. The proper way to fund the police department is by a special millage, which would only be used for this purpose, according to the letter.
If the voters pass the Aug. 2 millage for 2 mills, it would give the department $550,000 to operate.
The group is looking for more community members to become involved in the campaign for the millage. For more information Youngs at 687-6636 or e-mail nilesconcernedcitizens@yahoo.com.
The group's next meeting is Thursday, June 16 at 8 p.m. at the Niles Law Enforcement Complex.