Mayor outlines plan to contract with Colorado City Police, updates town on lawsuits and aquifer meeting

The mayor told the Apple Valley Town Council on Feb. 19 that he is negotiating a switch from the county sheriff to the Colorado City Police Department that would place a dedicated patrol officer in Apple Valley.

The mayor said, "I've been working with Colorado City Police Department who also services Hilldale. And I think I've got it worked out where we're gonna do a joint venture and get away from the sheriff and go to the Colorado PD with your guys' approval." He said the arrangement would include a dedicated patrol officer covering Apple Valley "all the way to Hilldale's dedicated patrol officer on our highway," stricter enforcement and a revenue-sharing arrangement in which "a better percentage will go to Apple Valley." The mayor said final contract details are being worked on and he will present them at the next council meeting.

The mayor also reported on two legal matters involving the town. He said the town previously won a wrongful-termination case that the former employee has appealed. "We won the lawsuit," he said, and added that the town's attorney believes any judge will uphold the original verdict.

He described a separate, older dispute over zoning for property north of the Wells subdivision that the mayor said had been thought resolved but was reopened when a judge determined the case was not properly closed. He said the town's attorney is reviewing the matter and that the council will likely return to court in April to urge the case be dismissed as closed or to address outstanding issues.

On water resources, the mayor scheduled an aquifer update for March 6 and said he will present a preliminary verbal report at that meeting. "We don't have the report yet, but I have a preliminary report," he said, adding that the official written report will arrive closer to summer. He said he will post notice and use a whiteboard to explain findings to the town.

The mayor briefly noted the community garden program is active and seeking volunteers to serve on its board.

Why it matters: a new policing contract could change local patrol patterns, traffic enforcement and revenue sharing; pending litigation could have budget and legal implications; and the aquifer report may influence water planning.

The mayor said he will bring the policing contract and the detailed aquifer report back to council for formal consideration at future meetings.