Salmon Arm taxpayers could be on the hook for $42,000 to cover costs related to policing Sturgis North.
On Monday, RCMP Staff Sgt. Kevin Keane provided city council with the detachment’s operation plan for policing the motorcycle rally. He estimated the cost to be around $82,000. While that figure could go either way, said Keane, pending on what are currently unknowns, he noted court time could easily swing it in an upward direction.
“The lion’s share (of the $82,000) is going to be overtime – about $34,000,” said Keane.
“I’ve also told the guys you will not be going home if you’re required, and that’s a possibility. Over and above that, what I kind of factored in there is court. If everybody on a shift schedule goes to court once, you can expect that to go up by 60 per cent.”
Sturgis organizers have provided the city with $40,000 to cover policing costs related to the event, which council has said it would return if not needed.
As for the $82,000, this relates solely to the municipal policing effort. Keane said this is a small amount compared to provincial policing effort involved in Sturgis.
“I’d like council to understand as well there are significant resources in the area, over and above ours…” said Keane. “The traffic unit is putting in 448 hours during that time. We have reservists, First Nations policing, air support, Southeast District management is coming down, we have the criminal intelligence unit, the uniformed gang task force and the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit is coming down with 13 guys. So there’s going to be resources around.”
Asked what his main concerns were relating to the event, Keane said a focus would be placed on drinking and driving and traffic congestion.
“I’m really worried about congestion, especially at the turnoff from the highway…,” said Keane. “We have, what is it, 8,000 semi trucks coming down this road, in addition to the normal tourist traffic. That’s a big concern. My guys are out right now at a motorcycle accident.”
Keane said the report was based on the numbers of attendees provided by Sturgis organizers. He said about 10,000 per day are expected during the week, with Sturgis hoping to get 30,000 a day on the weekend.
Asked if duty hours by Salmon Arm detachment members could be cut back if there isn’t a need, Keane said he has the ability to do this, but that it is unlikely he will. He said every minute of the event could be different from the next.
“Everybody is looking at this for the first time, you and I both, so we’ll see how it goes,” said Keane. “But I’m under no illusion that if it comes back, it will be bigger than it was…”
Mayor Marty Bootsma thanked Keane, noting there are as many people looking forward to the event with excitement as there are people looking to the event with apprehension.