QUINNESEC – Breitung Township will continue to use the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department for their law enforcement needs for the next four years after the board approved a new contract Monday.

Two sheriff’s deputies now patrol Breitung Township 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dickinson County Sheriff Aaron Rochon was on hand to answer any questions the board had. Rochon noted that with the township’s large land area and population, 60% of the department’s call volume originate in Breitung Township.

“It always helps when we have people dedicated to Breitung Township,” Rochon said. “It means that we are putting our resources where they need to be.”

Rochon said the big difference in this contract is it extends four years, which will coincide with the end of Rochon’s first term as sheriff.

The contract calls for a 2.5% increase per year for deputies wages and a modest increase for vehicle, equipment and uniform expenses. With the increased length of the contract, a hardship clause was included for both parties.

Board members praised the service the township has received from the sheriff’s department.

“I think it has been nothing but positive as far as the relationship with us and the sheriff’s department and the guys we have on staff with us,” Trustee Ben Peterson said.

The new contract, which will take effect Jan. 1, still needs Dickinson County Board approval.

In other action, the board:

– Voted to return unsealed the bids for the Quinnesec Park soccer field sprinkler system.

The bid request was sent out before the board decided to do more extensive work on the field, including building it up with several inches of clay to improve water retention. New bids will be taken when a better scope of the work is put together.

– Approved sending most of the township staff to Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness training the FBI will conduct July 29 at the Kingsford City Hall. The Breitung Township Hall will remain open that day and those who do not attend will take part in a similar program done by the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department.

– Discussed the need for cemetery mapping and digitization of cemetery records. A representative from TriMedia Environmental & Engineering will give a presentation at the Aug. 25 board meeting and companies with similar services will be invited to talk with the board as well.

Supervisor Denny Olson said the work needs to be done, as there may be open spaces the township does not know about.

“Doing this would be beneficial to us … We could use them (open spaces) so we do not have to spend money expanding the cemetery,” Olson said.