City police, firefighters to protect Prince

Months of horse trading involving City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Provincial Police and Prince Twp. ended this week with Sault Ste. Marie Police Service responsible for patrolling the low-crime township just northwest of the city limits.

Ended, at least for the time being.

City councillors voted Monday night to provide city police protection to the township's 1,010 residents for $175,000 a year until Dec. 31.

City police officers will provide Prince with the same level of service given to the Sault's rural areas such as the airport and Pointe Des Chenes neighbourhoods.

The agreement signed this week does not include enforcement of township bylaws, which remains the responsibility of township staff.

The cost of any special-duty officers needed for events in Prince Township will be billed in addition to the agreement.

The city signed a five-year police services contract with the township in 2014, with an initial annual cost of $143,249 escalating each year until the township was to pay $209,730 this year, comparable to the per capita cost of policing in the Sault.

But the township decided it was paying too much and served notice at the end of 2017 that it wanted to pull out of the deal on Dec. 31, 2018.

Prince then commenced negotiations to bring in Ontario Provincial Police.

That idea was abandoned when the OPP wanted to charge more than the township wanted to pay.

Last September, talks re-opened between Prince and the city.

Since Dec. 10, city police have been patrolling Prince under a temporary extension of the original 2014 contract.

City councillors were told Monday that $175,000 a year is appropriate given the low number of calls in Prince.

In December, City Police responded to six calls from the township.

In all of 2018, there were only 60 calls for service.

In other news, Sault Ste. Marie City Council agreed this week to also provide fire services to Prince beyond the existing District of Algoma Mutual Aid Plan.

Councillors were told that the township was having difficulties recruiting and retaining firefighters.

If the new deal is ratified by Prince's mayor and council, Sault Fire Services will serve the township on a cost-recovery, per-call basis for a one-year period.

Prince will pay $477 an hour for fire calls, plus a 25 per cent administration fee.