Daniels County commissioners review interlocal police agreement and consider public safety commission

Daniels County commissioners reviewed the county's interlocal law-enforcement agreement with the City of Scobby and discussed a separate proposal to create a Public Safety Commission that would oversee some sheriff's expenditures.

The commission concept described by board proponents would include two county appointees, two city appointees and the sheriff as the fifth member who would preside when the commission authorizes spending. Supporters said the body could allow faster operational decisions and provide modest financial incentives to help recruit and retain deputies; skeptics warned it could reduce direct commissioner oversight of a function funded in part by county general-fund dollars.

"I think it would be a good idea," Commissioner Le said, framing the commission as a means to give the sheriff's office more flexibility to run day-to-day operations while maintaining county- and city-appointed oversight. Proponents noted the public-safety mill levy that voters approved provides a funding stream that the commission could use for equipment and staffing priorities.

Opponents and some commissioners raised questions about accountability and scope. One commissioner asked whether the commission would still require the county to provide general-fund support and whether commissioners would retain authority over disbursements. Concerns included potential duplication of oversight, how payroll and bills would be handled if the sheriff's office had a separate checkbook, and statutory limits on sheriff compensation.

Commissioners also discussed practical matters tied to the interlocal agreement: an up-to-date inventory of equipment transferred between the city and county, how previously shared assets (vehicles, weapons, radios) were documented, and whether all equipment listed in older inventories is still present. Board members emphasized the need for a current, verified inventory before any structural change.

The board did not vote to create a Public Safety Commission at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to circulate an updated interlocal agreement and an equipment inventory for review and said they would return to the topic with more concrete proposals and answers to the governance questions raised. The county will continue reviewing the interlocal agreement in the coming weeks.

Next steps: the county clerk will distribute an updated version of the interlocal agreement and the sheriff's office will be asked for a current equipment inventory; commissioners said they expect a more detailed proposal for consideration within the next one to three months.