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Council extends MOU with Lincoln County Sheriff's Office; public raises staffing and transparency concerns
Summary
Council approved an extension to the memorandum of understanding with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to support training and coverage; a public commenter criticized transparency around agenda control and asked for more disclosure about officer counts and internal investigations. Officer Vincent Smart was sworn in publicly.
The Libby City Council voted to extend its memorandum of understanding with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office so the county can continue to provide field-officer training and cover shifts the city cannot staff. Council discussed the extension briefly and approved the motion.
During public comment, a resident identified as Mr. Mower questioned whether the public had been informed about the department's staffing levels and raised concerns about an officer under investigation and a grievance against the chief. He argued the city had not adequately informed residents about internal matters and said the mayor's role in setting agendas had reduced transparency.
The council did not provide detailed staffing numbers or internal-investigation details at the meeting; staff said those matters would be addressed through appropriate channels. Earlier in the meeting the council publicly swore in Officer Vincent Smart, who the police representative said is a local resident and military veteran.
The extension motion carried; the meeting record does not show a recorded roll-call tally with names for the vote. The council noted the extension would be formalized with a signed agreement to the sheriff's office.
