Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council schedules March 16 public hearing on police coverage; staff notifies grant award for wellhead protection
Summary
The council agreed to hold a public hearing March 16 to discuss rescinding an ordinance related to forming a city police department; the city attorney and sheriff were invited to attend. Staff also announced a pending wellhead-protection grant award (up to $14,000 requested) with performance through 2027.
The Blackduck City Council agreed to schedule a public hearing on March 16 to gather community input about rescinding an ordinance that previously established a police department and to clarify future law-enforcement arrangements.
Staff told the council their city attorney would attend the March 16 hearing electronically and that Sheriff Riggs had been invited to answer questions about county coverage and proposed staffing. Council members discussed current coverage arrangements: the city maintains part-time officers and the county provides deputies to supplement coverage, but full 24/7 local coverage has not been in place.
One councilor asked whether the county-provided coverage equates to 40 hours a week; staff replied that the county’s arrangement referenced 40 hours per week of deputy presence in town. Council members said notice should be broadly circulated and that holding the hearing in the same building is appropriate; they left open the option of moving the venue only if attendance requires a larger space.
Separately, staff announced a wellhead-protection implementation grant they applied for in the fall has been approved in principle; the executed grant agreement was pending at the time of the meeting. The grant request was for $14,000, and staff said the city will know the approved award amount and must use any funds by the end of 2027 once the agreement is signed.
Council members said the hearing and grant documentation would be posted and that additional partners should be encouraged to attend to answer budget and operational questions.
