It appears the Village of Empire may have an increased police presence on the weekends this summer.

The Village Council Tuesday night unanimously approved contracting with the county Sheriff’s Department to provide a part-time deputy and patrol vehicle for the village starting this year. According to terms of the proposed contract, the department would have a deputy available for patrol within the village at a cost of $18.95 an hour, and working 20 to 30 hours a week.

Deputy clerk and office administrator Darlene Friend said the estimated total cost for the deputy is $4,400 if the deputy only serves the village. Council president Sue Carpenter said the village is talking with Empire and Glen Arbor townships to see if there is interest in having additional police presence in those areas during the summer.

“If both Empire and Glen Arbor join in, the deputy position would be full-time, with his time split between here and Glen Arbor,” Friend said.

Sheriff Michael F. Oltersdorf appeared before the council Tuesday night to discuss options for a patrol. He said having a full-time deputy patrol the Empire Village area was likely not necessary, adding that a part-time position would be more what the village needs in the summer.

The council previously considered hiring an ordinance enforcement officer to handle parking problems at the Village Beach park and on village streets during the summer. The council decided to see if a part-time deputy might fill that need as well.

If the village ends up going alone on the summer deputy, the officer would work mainly on weekends and would patrol the village on foot or bicycle. “I would not want the deputy driving a patrol car around the village. I would rather him or her be on foot or riding a bicycle, getting out and meeting the people and business owners,” he said.

Empire Township treasurer Hal Pendleton, who also serves as the village Zoning Administrator, said the township board may be interested in a cost share for a Sheriff’s deputy for liquor inspections.

The village has experienced problems with parking at the beach during busy summer weekends. With the beach park undergoing a major renovation this spring, some of the concerns about emergency vehicle access are being addressed, though enforcement of parking remains a top priority.