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Jackson County asks attorney to send written demand to Lamont over law‑enforcement contract
Summary
After the town of Lamont declined to enter a per-capita law-enforcement contract, the Board asked the county attorney to draft a written request to the Lamont mayor and council and discussed legal options including mandamus to compel compliance with Iowa code.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Cracker briefed the board on a county practice dating to 2023 that uses per‑capita contracts (historically $25 per capita) so incorporated small cities receive law-enforcement coverage. He said the city of Lamont declined to enter that contract.
County Attorney John told supervisors there are legal avenues if an incorporated city refuses to comply with the statute requiring a law-enforcement plan or contract. He explained that a mandamus action (a court order compelling performance of a statutory duty) has been used and upheld in similar cases and that, depending on the circumstances, constituents or the county could pursue court action to enforce compliance.
Supervisors debated a stepwise approach that favors written, trackable outreach before litigation. Supervisor Nen Flegel moved and Mike Stein seconded a motion directing the county attorney to draft and send a written letter to the Lamont mayor and council requesting a written response about law-enforcement coverage; the motion passed by voice vote. The board instructed that the letter be in writing so any refusal would be documented.
County staff said the same outreach approach could be used for other small cities while recognizing most have cooperated under the current arrangement.
