Police patrol in Lakengren Ohio...going where I maybe shouldn't

I know that the general rule is to keep politics out of your social networking. Politics are best kept discussed with family and close friends. Because it is such a volatile subject, and every person has their own position and stance that may, or more likely MAY NOT, agree with your own.

But...I'm going to jump into the political water here for a moment to discuss the recent levy that passed in Lakengren Ohio, regarding having a Preble County Sheriffs car on patrol for the community. I'm even going to go so far as to tell you how I voted on this issue. I voted no. Let me tell you why.

First of all, its not that I don't have concerns about crime. Lakengren is a gated community. That doesn't mean we are sheltered from crime or random acts of stupidity, not to mention speeding. Somehow the road going right past my house has been unofficially declared the new "Indy 500 track". I don't like it. I don't like that my car, as well as my husbands, has been broken into. I don't like that people have been robbed, or just had their property's messes with. All of that is wrong, wrong, wrong. So the thought is..lets get a sheriffs car in Lakengren to patrol and cut down on all of the hi jinx. Fair enough.

But wait...Lakengren is part of Preble County. Shouldn't our area be patrolled anyways? WHY do I have to PAY for this service??

Lets take a closer look at this. All of Preble County has the service of the Preble County Sheriffs department. In one way or another, all of Preble County pays for this service. But now, in order for me to have what should already be mine, I have to pay EXTRA? OK, OK..I know its only $3.00 per month. It's just the principal of the thing.

Lakengren residents have been informed that when someone is ticketed in Lakengren, the money collected from the ticket does NOT go back to Lakengren, it goes to the County. WHY? Because Lakengren is a private community. So when someone speeds in the Village of Gratis, the money collected goes BACK to the Village of Gratis. Yet Lakengren doesn't get the same benefit, being a "private" community. So the Village of Gratis gets this service for free. And we now pay for the service.

Its no secret that Preble County Sheriffs Department has been running short-staffed for quite some time. Matter of fact, did you know that the Preble County game warden is often called in for support from the sheriffs department, to serve warrants, for emergencies, etc?

Is it conceivable that the patrol car we now will be paying for might also be called out for back up to other areas of the county, all on our dime?

Not to mention that this is still only a service that will be provided 40 hours a week. What about the other 128 hours of the week?

It is my sincere hope that just the "idea" that a patrol car is in the Lakengren area will deter any future crimes, speeding and other hi jinx. I just don't feel like this was totally thought through. It's not the $3 bucks a month that's the issue at stake...it's the fact that Lakengren is paying for a service that should already be at our disposal, the same way it is for the rest of our little neck of the woods.

***By the way...I have NOTHING but the up-most respect for the Preble County Sheriffs dept. I certainly DON'T drive a Buick Rendezvous, EVER speed, or heck...even live in Lakengren! :) ***