Trustees in Weston Approve Agreement with Village of Rothschild to Create Mountain Bay Metropolitan Police Department

Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Trustees in Weston have unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Rothschild to create the Mountain Bay Metropolitan Police Department.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, the agreement calls for Weston to provide 65% of the department’s annual budget. Rothschild will provide 35% and will house the department headquarters at their current police station located near Village Hall.

The Board also approved the first four appointees to the Mountain Bay Metro Police Commission; Dan Vergin, Jeff Wickersham, Ryan Simmions, and Jeff Micholic. Vergin, a former Everest Metro PD Chief, has been working with the communities as they craft the merger agreement and will serve a one-year term on the Commission.

The others will serve staggered multi-year terms. Village President Mark Maloney and Trustees Jim Pinsonneault and Jamie Weiland were also appointed to the Mountain Bay Oversight Board.

Trustees expressed gratitude for how quickly the agreement came together, noting that the agreement could mean Weston has a fully-staffed police department for the first time in nearly eight years. Leaders were unavailable for immediate comment following Monday’s meeting.

The agreement still requires approval from the Village of Rothschild, which is expected during their meeting next Monday. They must also appoint three members to the Commission and additional members to the Oversight Board. If those approvals go as planned, the merger could begin in April.

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