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11 Should Arden Hills switch from having its own independent Police Department to con- tracting for police protection from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department? That is the question currently being pondered by our Council. Early this year, Arden Hills was left without a Police Chief when Pat Sexton became medically disabled. At the March 28 Council meeting, representatives from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office explained the services they , could provide on a contract basis. At that same meeting, a petition recommending that Arden Hills retain its own Police Department was presented, and the Public Safety Committee went on record as supporting our own Department and agreeing that a new chief should be found. Since this is now budget time for Arden Hills, and a new Chief has not yet been seleotedj it would be a good time to switch our form of police protection if we are going to do it at all. The Council is trying; to compare the estimated Arden Hills' police budget for 1978 with the estimated cost of contracting with Ramsey County for 1978. (It's very difficult com- paring two estimates, either or both of which could change.) At first glance, it appears that the contract with Ramsey County would save Arden Hills some money. In addition, the County can provide full-time experts in juvenile and detective ' services. On the other hand, in the County's estimate, there was no mention of overtime ex- penses, radio repair, etc., so the Council is still working on the true meaning of the numbers= Although our current policemen would be hired as officers by Ramsey County, all but one would I prefer to stay with the Arden dills Police Department. So what should we do? The final decision on this will be made by the Council, but they'd sure like to know what the residents of AH think. Councilman Crichton has the estimates from both systems, so if you have more questions, give him a call (636-2999). Then please ' write the Arden Hills City Council, 1450 W. Highway 96, 55112, with your opinion. There will be an informal Open House at the Village Hall on Thursday, October 27, at 8100 p.m., for everyone to come and see how things are done in our town. Our elected officials will be there, as well as the office staff and committee chairmen as available. You can ■ even get a cup of coffee and maybe climb on a snowplow. This event "is spoasored'by-£Fie League of Women Voters, and apparently last year everyone had a ball. My 12 -year-old wants to see the aerial map of Arden Hills so that he can find our house. Do try to come. Does anyone in Arden like to find such a group one herself. Apparently So if you have any ideas, * Bills play in a local instrumental string group? Dee and join, or, if worst comes to worst, she is willing Community Education in the local areas offer Band but give Dee a call at 633-2860. * Bedford would ' 1 to organize no Strings. ■ I Here is a letter from Larry Squires, Arden Hills' Building Inspector= "Just a note ■ to you, thinking perhaps that along with the warning to potential home builders on variance requests, that an additional warning should be sounded on the increasing nmber of marginal ' lots on the market today. These lots could not be sold in years past because supply was great. Now with exploding land values and a severe shortage of good buildable lots, I'm finding an increasing number of permit applicants who have bought one of these marginal lots and, not knowing the history of that lot, are faced with large expenses to make the let build- able. uild-able. Maybe a call to the building inspector or a soils test would prevent a lot of expense and grief." This bit of advice probably holds good for a nyono purchasing property anywhere, so keep ' it in mind for friends and relatives too, even if they're not in Arden Hills. Press release-- Rehabilitation grants for low-income howmeowners are now available in. the Village of Arden Hills. These rehabilitation funds have been appropriated to the Minn- esota Housing Finance Agency and are being cooperatively administered by the Metropolitan 7 I