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Blackduck council weighs contracting policing with county sheriff as hiring lags
Summary
Facing persistent hiring shortfalls and wage competition from neighboring jurisdictions, Blackduck council members explored a tailored contract with the county sheriff’s office that would station a deputy locally, shift some liabilities to the county and require public hearings before a final decision.
Facing an inability to fill a vacant police post, the Blackduck City Council spent the bulk of its meeting discussing a possible contract with the county sheriff’s office to provide patrol and ordinance enforcement services.
Council members said they have budgeted for a second full-time officer for two years but continue to receive few viable applicants. "We had six applicants for one position, of which two of them were viable options," Jason said, describing the current recruitment pool and the difficulty finding certified candidates at the city’s pay scale.
Jason and other presenters told the council that nearby agencies are paying roughly $10 an hour more in starting wage (the city’s starting wage was described as about $37 an hour, versus about $39–$50 in a neighboring community), and that the county can tailor a contract to provide either minimum emergency response or fuller ordinance enforcement and community policing. Under the proposal discussed, the county would carry insurance, workers’ compensation and some training responsibilities; the city would see those costs appear as a charge-for-service rather than payroll line items.
Council members and staff stressed that contracting would not be a foregone conclusion. "We don’t really want to open this up full public hearing or anything if the city has no interest," one council member said, but several members said a public hearing and broader community outreach are necessary before taking action. Members proposed inviting township leaders, county commissioners and the city and county attorneys to the hearing. A tentative timeframe of early–mid March (a March 16 date was suggested) was discussed for a first public hearing.
Budget figures discussed included an estimated contract cost shown on a spreadsheet as about $177,000, which presenters said is close to what the city currently budgets for police but structured differently. Council members noted pay-equity complications if the city raised its wage scale to match competitors, and cautioned that contract language would need legal review. The county representative said the contract length, scope and reporting frequency (quarterly, semiannual or annual reports were offered) would be negotiable.
Council members emphasized maintaining school coverage and community outreach if the city moves to a contracted model. No formal action on contracting was taken; the council agreed to pursue public engagement and legal review before a decision.
The council approved the meeting agenda at the outset and adjourned at the end of the session. The council did not vote on a policing contract at this meeting; members directed staff to schedule public outreach and bring legal counsel into the process.
