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And in East Hempfield Township, supervisors Chairman John Bingham said Wednesday, "I don't have a problem talking with anybody" about shared police purchases or even a possible regional police force.
East Hempfield expressed its interest Wednesday in talking with Columbia about anything from a police merger to sharing services.
The township's five supervisors, who voted unanimously to agree to talk with Columbia further about the police plan, were responding to a letter that Lutz sent recently to the township.
"Columbia welcomes you to join us in an open discussion on creating a regional police department or any other regional effort that may result in a lower cost and more effective means of conducting business," the mayor's letter states.
The idea of a regional force in areas west of Lancaster has been discussed off and on for years, with most suburban municipalities being mentioned as part of the force at one time or another.
And "we're willing to see what interest there is out there regarding common purchases" or more serious steps, Bingham said after Wednesday's East Hempfield supervisors' meeting.
Lutz, who was re-elected to another term as Columbia's mayor in Tuesday's election, said Wednesday he has contacted several other communities to see if there's interest in joint police services.
"I believe, as an elected official, you owe it to your constituents from time to time to see if there's a lower cost of doing business, which would result in improved services," he said.
"It may or may not be, but you need to take a look from time to time," he said.
Lutz also sent the request to West Hempfield and Manor townships and Wrightsville Borough in York County.
His letter suggests "an open discussion on creating a regional police department or any other regional effort that may result in a lower cost and more effective means of conducting business."
Lutz's letter also said if there's interest in talking about the police issue, "I will contact all concerned parties to arrive at a date and time to open discussion."
Regional police forces are often called "the wave of the future" in law enforcement, with multicommunity departments growing in popularity.
But talks that East Hempfield has had over the last decade toward police mergers ended before any final merger steps happened.
East Hempfield decision-makers have shelved plans twice, in 2001 and 2006, for a joint force with West Hempfield and Manor townships.
And a year ago, Manor Township officials offered a polite "thanks, but no thanks" to a Columbia offer to discuss police regionalization.
There are now three regional departments in Lancaster County.
The Susquehanna Regional Police Department covers East Donegal and Conoy townships and Marietta Borough, and the Northwest Lancaster County Regional Police Department covers Mount Joy and West Donegal townships.
The Southern Regional force protects Pequea and Conestoga townships.
Also at Wednesday's East Hempfield meeting, officials said early indications are that the township does not expect to have a real-estate tax increase in 2010.
Township Manager Robert Krimmel said he has sent a draft budget to the supervisors for their review.
The supervisors and Krimmel will hold a public budget meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. at the township building in Landisville.
