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Council hears first reading on ordinance to raise miscellaneous police fees, including security overtime rate
Summary
On first reading, the council reviewed an ordinance that raises several police service fees — fingerprint and criminal-history checks to $10, impound storage to $10/day, restores breath testing with a $100 fee, and raises the officer security overtime rate to $100 per hour — and scheduled further consideration.
The Scottsbluff City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance to amend miscellaneous police service fees, and members discussed changes proposed by Chief of Police Chris Abras.
Abras outlined five changes: fingerprint-card and criminal-history-check fees rising from $7.50 to $10; a return to breath testing for DUI processing with a fee increase from $75 (an older rate) to $100; impound storage fees increasing from $5 per day to $10 per day; and an increase in the security (overtime) charge from $50 to $100 (per hour, per officer). Abras said the $100 security rate was calculated using the highest paid officer’s overtime rate plus employer payroll costs (social security, retirement, workers’ comp, benefits), and that the change prevents the city from subsidizing overtime when providing security at events.
Councilmembers endorsed reviewing fees more frequently to avoid large jumps and discussed that some event permits historically included police presence as a condition. Abras said the intoxilyzer (breath-machine) will be located at the jail and officers will receive training to resume breath testing; previously blood draws were done at the hospital.
The item was presented as a first reading; council did not take final action at this meeting. Staff said they would bring the ordinance back for further consideration consistent with the reading schedule.
