Copper Hill board votes to notify Polk County it will terminate law-enforcement contract and seek renegotiation

The Copper Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to authorize the mayor to provide written notice terminating the city’s law-enforcement services agreement with the Polk County Sheriff and to begin negotiations for a new contract aimed at clearer service levels and potentially expanded coverage.

Mayor Barker read the resolution authorizing the action and told the board the current contract was “not sufficient” for the city’s needs. “The mayor is hereby authorized and directed to provide written notice to Polk County Sheriff that the current contract for law enforcement services shall terminate effective 06/30/2026 in accordance with the terms of the agreement,” Barker said as she read the resolution language aloud.

The resolution, numbered 202604006, notes the existing agreement took effect July 1, 2023, was automatically renewed July 1, 2024, and may be terminated by either party with at least two calendar months’ written notice. The board discussed what enhanced coverage and clearer performance benchmarks would look like before approving the resolution.

Board members reiterated the need to link any additional payment to defined deliverables. An alderman who spoke in favor of negotiation said, “I think having some clear benchmarks is a good use of city funds,” urging the board to specify what residents should receive in return for extra municipal dollars. The mayor told members that last year the city budgeted $40,000 for expanded services but currently pays $20,000 under the standing agreement; attempts earlier to secure the larger package did not produce an executed contract.

The mayor said she will send the required termination letter to the sheriff and pursue discussions with Polk County officials and return a proposed agreement to the board for approval. Members asked that staff and the mayor set up a workshop to develop specific service expectations and price points before any revised contract is executed.

The motion to adopt the resolution was recorded as “Motion by Jake, second by Donna,” and the board approved it by roll call. The action authorizes the mayor and city representatives to negotiate and bring back a proposed agreement for future board consideration.

Next steps: the mayor will notify the Polk County Sheriff as directed by the resolution and schedule negotiation meetings and a board workshop to refine benchmarks and budget implications. No new contract terms were adopted at the meeting.