Public safety can be a broad topic and is the core of why governments exist.
We should adopt a rental inspection ordinance.
This would help ensure that those who rent in our community will have safe and healthy places to live. It should be balanced so that the inspections are appropriate and do not create an undue cost burden.
We should build a new fire station already.
I know, I know. As one of neighbor’s has told me, this has been a topic in Dexter since 1997. If elected your mayor, I would do everything in my power to be the last mayor to have to talk about this for a generation.
This will likely be the single largest investment of public funds in the history of Dexter. We should ensure that it is done right and one once. Although there are pressures to reduce immediate costs, we need to understand that saving a dime today can cost a dollar and a half tomorrow.
We should adopt a cost-recovery ordinance.
Ok, this is a bit of boring, insider baseball, but it is important. Most communities that provide fire and rescue services also have a cost-recovery ordinance that allows them the opportunity to collect funds when they respond to emergencies, such as a house fire, car accident, hazardous material incident, or tending to downed power lines.
Most policies from insurance providers cover some amount of cost recovery, but only if there is a cost-recovery ordinance in place. For a typical house fire, this might be $500. For a hazardous material incident it could be thousands of dollars.
The cost-recovery ordinance should have an appeals process and a hardship exemption.
Ideally, it is something that we should do in concert with our Dexter Area Fire Department participating communities, but, we should not wait unnecessarily for them before taking our action.
We should improve pedestrian safety.
Although many areas in Dexter are pretty walkable, there are many ways that we can continue to improve.
There are many areas with janky sidewalks. Sidewalks that have weird zig zags, cutbacks, or are incredibly slanted. There are areas where it remains difficult to cross the road.
It should be easy for all of our citizens, young and old, to use our sidewalks and cross our streets throughout town.
I support reconstituting a Streets and Sidewalks committee that would include citizens to help identify necessary improvements and develop a plan to implement these improvements.
We should examine police services.
Currently, the City of Dexter contracts for police services through the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department. The last time Dexter examined that is roughly 17 years ago.
I have heard from residents who have not been happy with the services for one reason or another. I cannot give a clear answer of the costs or benefits between continuing a contractual service or standing up our own police force, but I would welcome the opportunity to look at it and gather public guidance.
We should seek partnerships for the Dexter Area Fire Department.
A larger department could provide cost savings and improved service to all areas.
This has proven a sticky issue in the past, but it is worthwhile exploring partnerships with surrounding communities.