MORGAN — After a year of haggling, Morgan County has approved an interlocal law enforcement contract with Morgan city.
The city will now have two officers dedicated strictly to law enforcement duties within city limits.
Previously, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department agreed to spend one-third of all patrol time within the city.
In the new agreement, the city threw in a provision to make sure the $220,000 it will pay the county each year is used as intended.
“What we’re telling them, one of the terms and conditions is, we don’t want to see the county’s budget slide $220,000 as soon as we give them that, then request the sheriff provide two additional deputies,” Morgan City Attorney Gary Crane said at a recent city council meeting.
“It’s a clear-cut parameter for the sheriff’s department so they don’t have to argue it with the county.”
City Councilwoman Shelly Betz said, “It protects both sides. It makes sure the money goes where it’s supposed to.”
At a recent county council meeting, County Councilman Alvin Lundgren wanted a few formatting changes, but his fellow council members were eager to put the issue to rest.
“How long are we going to drag this out?” said County Councilwoman Tina Kelley. “We’re overediting it.”
County Attorney Jann Farris agreed.
“We have the city (in the audience) on pins and needles, waiting to see if it gets passed,” she said.
“The process has taken over a year to get this contract. It’s poor government and makes the county look bad. That’s my opinion.”
In the end, the county council approved the law enforcement agreement as written, with only Lundgren voting against the motion.
“The (proposed) changes clarify and certainly make it simpler for future administrations to understand exactly what the agreement is,” Lundgren said. “The way it is assembled leaves it somewhat awkward.”
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