Shores Council Approves All-Pointes Grant

last month, the council unanimously agreed to accept it Monday.

Their agreement came after much discussion between council members and Shores Public Safety Director John Schulte and Public Safety Director Stephen Poloni.

The council decided to not take any action on the grant, offered through the state's Economic Vitality Incentive Program, during its February meeting after many members questioned what type of financial commitment it would require.

Poloni, who said he was at the Shores special meeting Monday on behalf of City of Grosse Pointe manager Pete Dame, explained to the council that accepting the grant only makes the funding a possibility should all of the Grosse Pointes be able to reach a decision and come up with matching funds for such a project.

Acceptance of the grant does not commit the Shores to any specific financial requirement now, Poloni and Schulte emphasized.

Councilman Dan Schulte said accepting the grant would be misleading if down the road the expectation is that the Shores would be contributing to establishing such a unified dispatch/lockup center.

Poloni also reminded council that their last year, requires the Shores to agree to accept any possible grants that would be mutually beneficial. He also said the contract outlines that the Shores would receive any savings achieved through further consolidations among the Pointes.

Councilwoman Kay Felt said in starting to have such discussions it is paramount that Shores officials emphasize the need to maintain the same level of service for residents in making any such change. Part of her concerns stem from the problems residents have reported related to the non-emergency telephone line with consolidated dispatch with the Farms.

The earlier this year. Dame had and all five of the Pointes must approve it before it can be eligible for use.

, saying they will agree to participate. The grant will match at a 50 percent rate up to $300,000 toward a central dispatch/lockup center to be used by all of the Grosse Pointes.

To take advantage of the full grant, the Pointes must come up with a combined $600,000. If officials contribute $400,000, they can get up to $200,000 from the grant.

The council is scheduled to address the grant at its next meeting. Poloni said Monday it is his understanding that the Farms intends to pass the grant during its next meeting.

The Shores addressed the grant during its special meeting Monday because it must be accepted by 5 p.m. March 20, which is the same day the Shores council meets next.