Police Officer Dan Wald believes a Grantsburg Municipal Court will, "Make a statement we don't want underage drinking here."

Wald, speaking for Grantsburg Police Chief Jeff Schinzing and the department, presented a plan to adopt a municipal court in Grantsburg.

Webster and Amery currently operate such courts. For officers like Wald, the court means, "We can write citations and get them (the offender) in front of a judge right away," as opposed to waiting for months for the case to surface in district court.

"It appears it will cost somewhere between $10,000 and $11,000 for expenses," wrote Chief Schinzing.

Village Board trustees like Roger Panek don't believe the money generated by the court will be a huge "revenue maker", but the convenience and ability to get offenders right into court is a positive factor.

"Its more convenient for local enforcement," said Trustee Tim Tessman.

"Our revenues through citations from 2007 and 2008 was very close to $6,000," wrote Chief Schinzing.

He said, "In 2007 we issued 200 tickets and 91 of those were filed with the court and resulted in revenue."

Right now the village gets between $20 and $25 when a $160 speeding ticket is issued. Amounts vary, said the chief.

Officer Wald told the village board, "The normal fee would be $30."

A fee schedule will be developed.

Wald called the proposal "cost effective" for municipalities.

There was talk about combining the court with Siren, such as one currently in operation between Osceola, Dresser and the Town of Farmington.

But supervisors seemed to feel it would be better to develop and maintain their own court.

The board discussed the idea of holding current in council chambers. The chosen judge doesn't have to have official training but the judge will pick his own clerk.

For now the matter will be under advisement but may be brought up in the very near future.

"We should try it for a couple of years to see how it works, then go from there," suggested Panek.

"I'd like to study it," said Village President Mark Dahlberg.