Kiski Township could become newest member of Southern Armstrong Regional Police

Kiski Township may join the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department after receiving a number of approvals from regional police stakeholders.

The Southern Armstrong Police Commission accepted Kiski Township’s expression of interest on May 20.

Within days, Gilpin supervisors and Ford City Council gave their OK, achieving the required two-thirds majority of member municipalities. The Freeport City Council still has to vote on the plan.

Together, the three municipalities form Southern Armstrong Regional, which was formed in 2022 with Gilpin and Freeport and acquired Ford City last year.

With about 4,600 residents, Kiski Township would be the largest municipality to join the division.

Now it’s up to Kiski town leaders to hold their own vote, likely later this month or in July, said Town Manager Chuck Rodnicki, who favors incorporating the town into the much larger regional town.

“I think we have the votes,” Rodnicki said. “It’s a no-brainer.”

He fears that inaction could lead to an increase in property taxes.

Kiski Township police will be getting a new contract later this year that will likely include higher pay and better benefits. For Rodnicki, that means the urgency to get a deal done is more important than ever.

But at least one supervisor sees things differently.

Board Chairwoman Brittany Hilliard’s skepticism about a merger turned into outright rejection after calculating some numbers, she said.

Southern Armstrong officials have estimated the township’s potential savings at $250,000. Kiski Township would have to pay the regional department about $529,000 annually, less than the nearly $775,000 budgeted for police this year.

Taking into account grants, reimbursements and contracts – such as the $58,000 deal with Kiski Township to provide police services to North Apollo – the township’s financial position would not improve with a merger, Hilliard said.

“I don’t think we can save that much in terms of cost,” Hilliard said. “We already have a department that’s staffed 24/7, so there’s no benefit to us.”

Kiski Township Police Chief Lee Bartolicious told TribLive in April that only one officer was on duty from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. Combining forces would allow two officers to be available 20 hours a day and increase Southern Armstrong’s officer count from 15 to 22.

Bartolicious did not respond to a recent request for comment. He is one of four full-time officers in Kiski Township, which has three part-time employees.

In the event of a merger, the Apollo-Ridge School District would retain its two security guards. The Kiski Township police station would become a substation of Southern Armstrong.

Proponents of a merger also cite access to Southern Armstrong’s accident reconstruction units and drone program as well as certified calibration officers as reasons for joining.

Hilliard said she does not expect to be consulted before a merger is put to a vote. In fact, she does not want the council to decide the issue at all.

“To be quite honest, I think there should be a referendum on the ballot,” Hilliard said.

She would also like to have another public participation meeting like the one on April 29 in the town hall, but with even more opportunities for participation.

“I think it should be in a larger location so more residents can participate,” Hilliard said. “It needs to be properly promoted so people can adjust their schedules and have the opportunity to be there.”

Rodnicki called another public hearing a “waste of time,” but urged citizens to take advantage of public hearing periods at a workshop meeting on Wednesday and the regular meeting on June 12, both at 7 p.m.

The board’s approval would begin a process in which the township would take inventory of its police resources, disband its police department by ordinance and enter into a community participation agreement with Southern Armstrong, said Charles Stull, chairman of the Southern Armstrong Police Commission.

Ultimately, the municipality will determine the pace of a possible merger, which could be completed within a few months, he said.

“It looks like we have only completed the first step and the rest is in the hands of the Kiski community,” said Stull.