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MANCELONA - The new budget for Mancelona in 2008 has room for one less police officer.

The village has looked in all areas to trim the budget over the last six months, and the police department is one that got hit, going from three full-time employees (chief included) to two.

"We have to lay off a position," Trustee Kathy Altrock said at the meeting. "We don't like that idea, but we have no choice."

Rocky Windish is the police officer who will be laid off indefinitely.

"It's always a tough decision when you have to cut a service like that to the village of Mancelona," Village President Robert Wilcox said.

Wilcox also informed the board that Windish had quite a bit of accrued vacation, sick and personal time as well as pro-rated longevity pay due at the end of the year, and that his departure will cost the village $13,000.

Police Chief Bill Robbins said the decision from the village wasn't a surprise.

"We pretty much knew it was coming, unfortunately," he said. "Financially, that was kind of what they had to do."

Chief Robbins said his department would work around the shortfalls and the county and state police will be there to aid for 9-1-1 calls.

"If you call 9-1-1 over here you shouldn't have a problem," Robbins said. "I talked to the sheriff to make sure there are no major gaps."

But, cutting a police officer does hurt the department.

"We lost 40 hours a week of coverage," Robbins said. "We are just going to work around it."

Wilcox said he doesn't know when the village will have the money to reinstate the position.

"It hurts. There's no doubt that hurts a family," Wilcox said. "We had to do what we had to do as much as we hated to. I would hope in time that we could call back Mr. Windish. He's done a fantastic job for the village of Mancelona."

Robbins tries to stay optimistic that in the future things might look up. "We can always hope things get turned around," he said.

In other village news, the council decided not to renew their contract with gas company Integra and to go back to service with DTE Energy.

"Michcon (DTE) is regulated so they just can't go out and raise prices whenever they want," Wilcox said.

DTE is cheaper per cubic foot and has had a steady price for the last nine months, according to Wilcox.

"It was a considerable savings and we felt like it was time to go back," Wilcox added. "Every year we'll weigh that."

The DDA and the village also signed a letter of understanding that the DDA will give back 90 percent of the money contributed by the village this year.

Because of budget shortfalls, there was talk of disbandment of the DDA last summer. Through lots of public input and meetings, the village and DDA have come to this agreement for this year.

"In reimbursing the village, the DDA does desire to work with the village in everything we do. We're showing that by giving back 90 percent," DDA President Mike Biehl said. "Hopefully this will aid the village in getting back on their feet."

Other council members expressed pleasure in finding a middle ground. "I'm glad we reached an agreement with the DDA," Altrock said.

Wilcox said he felt the February DDA meeting was very productive.

"I do think it was a very good meeting last night with people stepping forward with some really good ideas," he said.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.