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February 26,2003 <br />Chief Judge Kevin Burke <br />Assistant Chief Judge Lucy Wciland <br />Dear District Court Judges, <br />The City ofOrono, the Orono Police Department and its contract cities including Minnetonka <br />Beach, Long Lake, Spring Park are very concerned over the proposed closing of the Ridgcdale <br />Court, <br />This closing has some tremendous negative impacts on police and prosecutorial operations, our <br />budgets and our quality of life. <br />Budgets that are already strapped will suffer additional burdens for the following reasons: <br />We will spend more money in overtime to send officers to Brookdale, Southdale or Downtown, <br />Ridgedalc is approximately six miles from our office. Brookdale and Southdale Centers are at <br />least another 10-15 miles, through fairly heavy traffic. <br />Because of fewer courtrooms in session, we will have more officers called who will be waiting <br />on standby for ^heir cases to be heard. (There arc other large cities where subpoenaed officers arc <br />sleeping in the court house hallways waiting for their cases to be heard). This is real hardship for <br />people w'ho work shifts. <br />During the winter months, our officers have about 15 court cases per month (often involving <br />more than one officer.) In the busier season, we receive about 25 court notices per njonth. Our <br />officers will need more lead time to respond to court. <br />We can expect to add at least 25 hours in driving time and about 50 hours in increased waiting <br />time/standby time at court. Given the 75 hours of labor time at about $45 per hour, we will add <br />about $3,375 per month or about $45,500 per year. <br />Many of our officers live in areas around the west end of the metro area. I would anticipate they <br />will request reimbursement mileage rather than coming into the police station to pick up a squad <br />to take to court. This will run about $90 per month. Parking costs will add another $60/monlh. <br />These incidentals add about $1,800 a year. The alternative is a purchase of two additional “court <br />cars" which will be about $40,000.