Spring Grove council declines current sheriff contract, sets public safety budget at $218,000

Mayor Bryran Wilhelmson and a majority of the Spring Grove City Council voted Oct. 21 to decline the current Houston County Sheriff’s Office contract and to set the city’s public safety budget at $218,000.

The action followed extended discussion about the contract’s cost. Wilhelmson moved that the council not accept the proposed contract and instead work with the sheriff’s office and county commissioners to find a contract that fits a $218,000 budget with a 6% annual increase; after an initial motion failed, a subsequent motion to reject the contract later passed with Council Members Michael Hagen and Morgan Buckland joining Mayor Wilhelmson in favor, Council Member Trent Turner opposed and Council Member Eric Ostern abstaining.

Why it matters: The city relies on a contract for law enforcement coverage rather than an independent municipal police department. Chief Deputy Bill Hargrove told the council the figures presented are likely the lowest the sheriff’s office can offer and warned against dropping coverage; Sheriff Swedberg, participating by phone, said county commissioners “do not wish to subsidize the contract” and warned that cancelling the agreement could make a future arrangement unlikely. “This is the only option right now on the table,” Swedberg said in explaining the county’s position.

Council members pressing for the rejection said the projected cost would strain the city budget. Council Member Michael Hagen noted the city will face difficult trade-offs if forced to absorb large costs over the contract term; Hagen also cited comparisons to other counties, saying he had heard some neighboring jurisdictions pay less because their contracts are subsidized.

After the votes on the contract, Mayor Wilhelmson moved to set the Public Safety budget at $218,000 (the mayor described this figure as roughly a 5% increase over current spending without other changes). That motion carried with Wilhelmson, Hagen, Turner and Buckland voting in favor and Ostern abstaining. The council directed staff to work with other agencies and the sheriff’s office to identify coverage options that fit the cap.

The council did not direct an immediate restoration of a city police force; Mayor Wilhelmson raised the possibility the city could pursue local law enforcement in the future but emphasized the current action is to seek a financially feasible contract. The council is expected to continue discussions with Houston County officials and the sheriff’s office to seek a workable arrangement ahead of future budget deadlines.