It was a packed house for the release of the proposed contract for OPP costing at the Espanola complex last night.
The costing was an election promise by the majority of council and they have been working at it for almost two year.
If council moves forward with the transition the Town would become part of the Espanola-Manitoulin Detachment.
The proposed cost to disband the municipal police service and bring in OPP is estimated at just under two million, three hundred and ninety-seven thousand dollars.
That includes salaries, benefits, support staff, operating expenses, uniforms and equipment, as well as one -time startup and capital costs.
That new detachment would cover a land area from Whitefish Falls, north to Biscotasing, west to Spanish-Walford, and east to Nairn Centre.
The proposal also means the present Espanola Detachment on Highway 17 would become the main office and the downtown municipal police station would be a satellite location.
There are renovations, which would be required at both sites and are not included in the proposal that would have to be done at the town’s expense.
The complement of officers would rise from 12 to 47, civilian staff from 6.5 full-time equivalents to 4.83 equivalents.
There was no public question and answer period.
Council will now review the proposal, which is valid until March 20th, 2018.
