The possibility of a regional police force between Everson and Upper Tyrone doesn't seem like much of an improbability since the township uses the borough's fire department and the two will soon be a part of the same sewage system.

While borough officials are open to any kind of partnership or regional police department with the township, they want to make sure township officials are serious about the possibility before they take any action or put any work into research.

At the Everson Borough Council meeting Monday, Councilman Eric Christner said Lt. Mark Price with the Everson Borough Police was approached by township Supervisor Sam Killinger about having a meeting to discuss a regional force.

"He, myself and Mark (Price) sat down to discuss the possibility of providing police protection to the township or forming a regional force with the township," Christner said. "I wanted to get council's feelings on the matter before we went any further."

Christner added that the borough has been part of these kind of discussions twice before but nothing ever panned out.

"But this time they came to us," he said, adding that Killinger seemed to think the township would be more interested in a regional force more than paying for the borough's police services.

"It wouldn't be a problem logistics-wise because both municipalities use the same district judge and we're both in the same county," Christner said.

Price said he thinks the township approached the borough this time because of the Pennsylvania House bill that will require all municipalities to have their own force or pay for state police services.

"We figured it would cost them $180,000 a year for state police coverage, $150,000 a year to start their own department or they could tie in with Everson," Price said, adding that no monetary figures were worked out for the third option.

"The bottom line is that the borough runs on a shoestring budget and it's just a matter of time before the expenses outweigh the revenues," he said. "If the township is willing to match what we have now, that provides more money and more hours."

Council President Mike Banaszak said the only thing the borough has to lose is time and effort.

"But before we establish a committee to start putting solid figures together, I want to see on record that they are interested in this because they backed out twice before," Banaszak said.

Christner said Killinger plans to discuss the issue with the other two township supervisors at a special meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday.

"If they're serious about this, then we'll establish a committee to put together some kind of proposal and figures," Banaszak said.

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