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Cannon Falls council approves Prairie Island police services agreement pending insurance verification
Summary
The City Council approved a services agreement with Prairie Island for police support with a contingency that the police chief confirm insurance coverage; one councilor asked the police commission to review the contract before finalizing.
The Cannon Falls City Council voted June 17 to approve a police services agreement with Prairie Island, contingent on confirmation from the police chief that the city’s insurance covers the arrangement.
Councilmember Diane Johnson raised concerns that the insurance documentation attached to the agreement dated from 2020 and asked that the Prairie Island agreement be sent to the Police Commission for review before the council considered it. “I would appreciate it if we would have an updated…ok with our insurance company for this kind of agreement,” Johnson said.
City Attorney Shelley told the council the 2020 agreement had been reviewed previously and that the current document had been reviewed for statutory compliance; she said she did not perform a line‑by‑line comparison with the 2020 version. The council’s discussion noted the original agreement was delayed by staffing shortages and COVID‑related interruptions and that the Prairie Island request to update dates was the primary change.
After debate, Councilmember Chad (identified in the meeting only by his first name) moved to approve the Prairie Island Police Services Agreement with the condition that the police chief double‑check insurance coverage; Councilmember Chris Jepson seconded. The council voted in favor on a voice vote.
No ordinance or new legal authority was created at the meeting. The council did not adopt a separate referral; Diane Johnson asked for the Police Commission’s review but did not block the motion. City staff said the League of Minnesota Cities’ insurance/legal division previously advised the city on whether such activities would be covered and that, from the 2020 discussions, “the league came back and said, no. You’re everything’s covered.”
The agreement covers contracted police services such as traffic control at Prairie Island events and will be billed at a different rate than routine contracted services, the council was told. The council requested that the police chief notify staff or council once insurance verification is complete.
