A final decision was made about the Amelia Police Department Sept. 6, and the decision did not come as a vote from council members.
Mayor Leroy Ellington canceled the Sept. 6 meeting, which is when council members were scheduled to vote on whether to contract with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office or keep the village department.
“The legislation to contract with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office was the only item on the meeting’s agenda,” Mayor Ellington said. “And since both jurisdictions have determined that it is not in their best interest to move forward with the contract, there was no need for the meeting.”
Mayor Ellington said both council members and officials from the sheriff’s office expressed concerns with the contract.
First, the Nov. 8 election is approaching and with it comes a new mayor and different council members, who could have different opinions about the contract, which would begin about the time they take office.
Mayor Ellington said the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office was also concerned that if council would have accepted the proposal for the contract, Amelia village residents could have filed a referendum and forced the issue to be presented on an election ballot.
In addition, the Fraternal Order of Police raised questions about the legality of using money that comes from the village’s police department levy to fund the sheriff’s contract.
“It is their position that Amelia Village Police Levy funds cannot be used to contract for police services and can only be used on the Amelia Police Department,” Mayor Ellington said.
Mayor Ellington said the fact that the contract would have saved the village a significant amount of money is difficult to ignore, but he also said he understands the concerns raised by the sheriff’s office.
“The sheriff’s office has an obligation to be financially responsible, just as we, here in Amelia village, do,” Mayor Ellington said.
Mayor Ellington said he is not sure how council members would have voted if they had the opportunity to do so Sept. 6.
“Some council members wish to keep the Amelia Police Department even if it is downgraded to just one officer on a pony,” Mayor Ellington said. “And other council members are swayed by the financial benefits of the contract.”
He said the issue can be brought up again after the new mayor and council members take office in January, and even though he could not see a resolve while he was in office, he said he is glad he could present the information to the village.
“I think it’s important for future village leadership to have as much information available to them as possible in order to make informed decisions in the future,” Mayor Ellington said.
Mayor Ellington said he is still waiting to hear back from the Attorney General regarding the legality of using the police levy to fund the contract, but for now, the village will move forward with their department as usual.
“The Amelia Police Department will continue working hard to provide the highest level of service possible to our citizens,” he said.