Kiski Township will end police coverage for North Apollo without a new contract

North Apollo could lose the police coverage provided by Kiski Township within the next few weeks.

The borough was given an ultimatum Wednesday by the Kiski Township supervisors to ratify a contract offer at its next council meeting or risk losing local police coverage.

“If they don’t ratify the contract on March 4, services will terminate at midnight on March 5,” said Kiski Township supervisors Vice Chairman Mike Bash.

Kiski Township has provided police coverage for North Apollo since 2007. That contract, however, expired last March.

North Apollo also has been looking at neighboring Apollo and Parks Township for a possible new police coverage contract.

Kiski Township Manager Donna Piper sent a new proposal to North Apollo in January. It requested that the contract be renewed for three years, effective Feb. 1.

A three-year police services agreement would run parallel with Kiski Township’s full-time labor agreement contract, she said.

According to the proposal, North Apollo would pay $49,800 a year, which is an increase of about $3,000 a year over the last contract. All other terms would remain the same, including money derived from citations, Piper said.

A meeting to discuss the latest proposal was organized by Piper and set for last Friday. Piper said she received an email from North Apollo Council Vice President Dana Baustert canceling the meeting soon before its start time.

Kiski Township invited North Apollo Council members to Wednesday’s meeting, but only Councilwoman Arlene McCoy showed up.

Attempts to reach Baustert and McCoy on Thursday for comment weren’t successful.

Piper said the reluctance from North Apollo to renew the contract, and the fact they have approached other municipalities to provide services, has caused Kiski Township officials to want to amend how either party can cancel the contract.

Another offer sent to North Apollo Council on Thursday included these cancellation terms: “A written notice of termination must be provided no later that September 30 of any given year to discontinue services for the following year and the obligations of both parties shall remain in full effect until the end of said year on December 31.”

North Apollo Borough was formed in 1930 when an Armstrong County judge granted a citizens’ petition to break away from Kiski Township.

If no other municipality contracts with North Apollo for police coverage, state police would take over patrolling the 1-square-mile borough.

A suggestion was made in December to consolidate police coverage for Apollo, North Apollo and Kiski Township, but no action has been taken.