Lowell Council ponders whether the city, with no police department, can afford to deal with a ‘brazen’ crime rate

By DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald — Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold believes that a resident deputy might help solve Lowell’s law enforcement problems.

The establishment of a tax district to finance such a position to serve Mohawk Valley residents will be decided during the Lane County election May 18.

Concern about reports of vehicles and other items being stolen in Lowell was voiced during a City Council meeting last week by Councilor Gail Harris.

“People are very concerned,” she said.

In addition to the loss of property, which Harris termed as “brazen,” the March 24-to-April 26 police log published in “The Bridge” reports two thefts, one burglary, an unlawful entry and several “suspicious conditions.”

But would people be willing to pay for more protection? she asked.

Probably not, Mayor Don Bennett responded by describing how this city of 1,090 residents has fared in providing limited police protection by hiring an Oakridge police officer to patrol Lowell for 40 hours a month.

Lowell, which has no police department, also depends on the help of a sheriff’s deputy, who is responsible for the Lower Highway 58 area. This assistance, however, is limited for a variety of reasons.

For example, the department employs 25 deputies to patrol 4,600 miles of highways, to check crime reports and to conduct investigations.

“Usually as many as 20 calls are awaiting when a deputy reports for work,” Harrold said during a Monday interview. “Deputies have hardly any unallocated time.”

Lane once was a timber county with taxes that helped finance as many as 70 deputies during the 1970s,” said Harrold, who was reared in Creswell.

Harrold is promoting the formation of special taxing districts such as that proposed for Mohawk for areas like Lowell to beef up law enforcement.

“The proposal would cost folks about 10 bucks a month for a house in Mohawk,” he said.

Even though the deputy would work an 8-hour shift, Harrold believes that being a resident will build relationships conducive for preventing and solving crime.

“If Lowell were interested, we would be happy to have a conversation,” Harrold said.

During the council meeting, Bennett questioned whether property owners would support turning to the sheriff’s office to provide protection because of the cost. He cited Creswell as an example.

Four deputies and a sergeant are stationed in that city of 5,600 people and provide service during all but a few hours a day, seven days a week.

The city finances its policing with a current $2.67 per thousand tax rate and a $14.56 charge added to the monthly utility bill, a system that residents said residents have supported for more than a decade.

“I think it’s working really well,” City Manager Michelle Amberg said during a Monday interview.

While Lowell council members took no action on the issue last week, Councilor Harris said, “I want to start a conversation.”