Leavenworth officials review expiring Pioneer Group agreement and weigh ending city police initial response to VA campus

The Leavenworth City Commission on Tuesday began a review of the city’s 20-year agreement with the Pioneer Group that requires the city to provide police service for parts of the VA Leavenworth campus and fire service for the entire campus.

Police Chief: The current structure “is just not working very well,” the Police Chief told the commission, citing frequent disputes over which agency should respond to specific calls and chronic inefficiencies. He said the Leavenworth Police Department responded to the campus about 850 times in 2023–24 — roughly once a day — and the fire department responded about 250 times in the same period.

Why it matters: The Pioneer Group, formerly the Eisenhower Ridge Association, pays the city in lieu of taxes under the contract. City staff said the payment has averaged about $19,000 per year recently, a sum fire and police leaders described as far below the cost of services delivered. The agreement is scheduled for renewal on Sept. 15; if renewed it would automatically move to five‑year terms.

History and problems: City staff said the arrangement dates to the developer-led redevelopment of historic campus buildings under a long-term lease with the VA. At the time the VA disbanded its onsite fire department and required developers to arrange for emergency services. Over time, staff said, the agreement’s division of police jurisdiction (some buildings designated for city response, others for VA police) has led to repeated operational friction, slow coordination and, in at least one instance, delayed traffic‑accident response.

Recommendation: The Police Chief recommended withdrawing the Leavenworth Police Department from being the initial responding agency to the campus and restoring the VA Police Department as the primary on‑site responder, with the city providing mutual‑aid backup when requested. “If they go out to a call and they need our help, we will come help them,” the Police Chief said.

Fire services: The Fire Chief described a prior arrangement in which the VA funded the city’s fire response at higher levels—roughly $400,000 annually in earlier years—before the VA stopped that funding. The fire chief said campus buildings and systems remain in poor condition, producing frequent false alarms and code‑related problems that draw city resources.

Commission reaction and next steps: Commissioners expressed concern about the small recent payments and the operational burden on city public safety staff. Several commissioners signaled they would not support renewing the existing agreement as written. City staff asked for direction to develop options including (a) renegotiating the funding formula, (b) phasing out city initial response while coordinating a transition with VA leadership and the incoming developer, or (c) allowing the contract to lapse and relying on mutual aid arrangements.

Timing: Staff reminded the commission the current agreement calls for action before the September renewal date and recommended discussing interim extensions only to avoid leaving residents without emergency coverage during a transition.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the agreement at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with cost‑of‑service estimates, a proposed transition timeline and draft language for a revised agreement or termination.