St. Paul schedules public forum after Howard County proposes merging city police with county sheriff

Howard County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Paul Tartaglia told the St. Paul City Council on July 20 that the county is prepared to discuss dissolving the city police department and merging municipal policing responsibilities with the Howard County Sheriff's Office.

Tartaglia outlined key components of the proposal, including employment of two city police officers by the county plus hiring one additional deputy, a negotiable contract to preserve local control provisions, coverage and dispatcher costs, city liability insurance and city code enforcement. He presented an initial city funding request of $500,000 for the first year and $470,000 for the second year, with the contract stating that beginning in the third year the preceding year's annual price would increase by 3.5% (the same 3.5% adjustment would apply during renewal and any transition option year unless formally amended).

Council member Katie Kowalski urged broader public participation, saying, "this needs to go to the vote of the people; this is too big of an issue for just four (4) Council members to decide." Kowalski moved to set a place, date and time for a special public forum on the proposal; the motion was seconded by Council member Jerry Woodgate and passed 4-0.

The forum is intended to give residents an opportunity to hear details of the proposed contract, ask questions about coverage and costs, and weigh in before the council pursues any formal agreement. City officials did not take further action on a contract during the July 20 meeting; next steps will be set following the public forum.