Supervisors approve one-year policing contract with Essex; sheriff reports low complaint volume and new patrol vehicle

The Page County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the chair to sign a one-year 2080 agreement with the city of Essex to provide law-enforcement services at a rate of $68.24 per hour, Sheriff Charles McCauley told the board.

The contract matters because it formalizes the county’s policing arrangement with the city of Essex for the coming year and establishes the hourly compensation the sheriff’s office will receive under the agreement.

Sheriff Charles McCauley introduced himself to the board and described the contract: “We are extending out our contract with the city of Essex. Again, it's gonna be a year long contract this time instead of just 6 months. The rate, I believe, is $68.24 an hour, and there are basically no changes to the contract,” he said. A motion to approve the chair’s signature carried by voice vote.

McCauley said the sheriff’s office had “very few complaints” from Essex and that deputies regularly respond to calls there. He also relayed community concerns he has heard about haul-road traffic and animals wandering into roads during construction: “I generally meet 5 or 6 of them every morning when it comes to whether the dogs are in the road,” McCauley said.

Separately, McCauley reported the sheriff’s office received a Durango vehicle that was outfitted with lights, cages and radios; the vehicle was stripped and striped and returned to service, and two more vehicles are expected to be delivered soon. The sheriff said the department purchased the vehicle from Shore Motor Company and had vendor work done in Baxter, Iowa.

The board also approved routine claims and the minutes from its July 1 meeting during the same session. There was no related debate about policing policy or contract terms beyond the administrative approval and the sheriff’s operational update.