By Jim Bloch
The city of Port Huron recently renewed it contract with Premier Security Solutions to provide armed guards for Lakeside Beach.
The city council vote unanimously at its regular meeting March 10 to roll over the contract.
“This is the same agreement we did the last couple of years at the beach,” said City Manager James Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on the city’s website.
Freed responded to questions emailed to him by Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Archibald.
“Why are we doing this?” Freed said. “We can’t get enough police officers in the summertime because they’re also taking vacations and out with their families. Before we did this, we actually had to do ordering-in of mandatory overtime. Imagine that you’re a police officer out with your family on the weekend and you get ordered in for beach patrol. This is actually a cost savings from paying officers overtime. We do not allow alcohol at our parks. That is why we need security there. You can’t ask a high school or college kid to ask a group of guys to get their booze off the premises. It takes (guards with) a little bit more teeth to them. So, we have security there to make sure the rules are followed. They’re also there for the protection of the people. When you have a gathering of thousands and thousands of people, it’s a soft target.”
Mayor Anita Ashford asked if the city employed the guard’s last year.
“Yes,” said Freed. “Same as what we did last year. Same price, same everything. We’ve had them for three years and they’ve really done an excellent job. And they work very well with our police department.”
According to the contract, the firm will provide armed security services at the beach. The company is responsible for all training, licensing and insuring of their workforce.
The contractor will “communicate with and work in conjunction with Port Huron Police, when on property, to ensure all information and incidents observed is shared and addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.” The company will “assist all City of Port Huron staff, Police officers and visitors with proper driving and parking instructions to allow for a safe parking and walking area throughout the park area. Contactor shall have the sole responsibility and prerogative of selection, assignment, transfer, management, and control of its staff.”
The security guards will work Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and the same hours on holidays.
The city will pay the company $48 per hour per armed guard on the weekends and $54 per hour on holidays.
The council vote 7-0 to approve the contract.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
