Grant county Commissioners recently invited Ulysses City Councilmen to sit down so they could discuss proposed plans for a new jail, and whether or not there was a possibility Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Ulysses Police Department should combine into one entity.
The purpose for the two entities to come together in the meeting was “so we can make plans and kind of proceed,” according to Grant County Commission Chairman Marty Long.
“Again thanks for coming,” Long said. “This is just to get some thoughts out in the air and start discussion.”
Grant County Commissioner John Martin noted at the February 21 meeting that he has already called Ulysses City Councilmen.
“(I) kind of know where they are probably sitting on this pretty solidly, but there are a lot of people in here who haven’t heard the reasons I brought that up,” Martin said. “I felt like if we are going to spend the kind of money to build a new facility that’s a question we need to ask before we do – what does the taxes look like for us in 10 years? Right now we are enjoying a pretty good profit from the gas side of things – but that won’t last forever. We all can agree on that. Land values are going down, water is going down. If we look out 10 years or so it’s going to be harder to fund a lot of things and I’d rather have these hard conversations today.”
Martin noted the question of combining the sheriff’s and police departments would “solely rest on the city council decision.”
“Whether they think that merits or not and it may not merit now, but it may look like something in the future,” Martin added,. “and until we have that conversation and a realistic look at it... I just opened up that can of worms so we could talk about it. I think it merits looking at that’s why I posed the question. When I called the city officials, we had some pretty straight forward conversations and everyone has an idea of what they want to do.”
Ulysses Mayor Tim McCauley, said the Ulysses City Council was not in favor of combining the two agencies.
"We’re not for that at all - I’ll put that out on the table right now," McCauley said. "And I think I’m talking for all six - right?"
McCauley then turned to his fellow councilmen who all responded in the affirmative that they were "not" in favor of the sheriff and police department's becoming one.
"We’re not interested period right now," McCauley continued. "We’ve had a conflict with the sheriff's and the police department - we’re all aware of that. This deal has got those guys - and they (police officers) are here - these guys are fighting for their livelihood. We are backing them 100 percent right now."
McCauley noted that the future may have a different answer.
"Councils can change. Commissioners can change," he said, "but right now that’s a big fat no. We’re not interested at all period."
Martin reiterated there was concern about the money that would need to be spent.
"I just felt if we are going to spend that kind of community money we need to have that conversation," Martin said. "(We need to) be honest with each other."
To which McCauley said, "I am being honest."
Martin said he had checked in to a question McCauley had.
"Tim, one thing you asked me about, and I went and asked about, (you) said one thing that might help things is if we were able to deputize the police force," Martin said. "It isn’t that the sheriff or we didn’t want that to happen, our liability insurance took the stance that we didn’t have any authority over the police department, but we’d have full liability if we do that. So that’s why. It's not an issue of us not wanting to work with everybody."
Ulysses City Councilman Ken Warner said he had three areas of concern.
"One of them is savings," Warner said. "The way we’re organized right now, you’re not talking a whole lot of savings. We already use the same dispatch. We do use the same law enforcement center. So I see the only savings being - one is our chief of police’s salary. We’re not going to eliminate that position. We’re just going to eliminate that additional fund. That’s not a huge final savings. And, as I look at this list you gave us - there’s not a lot on there.
"The other concern is the control issue," Warner continued. "This did happen in the past and there were some major issues. That’s why it got split back apart. I’m not sure I see any resources or anything that would say that wouldn’t occur again. As you know the sheriff only answers to the state attorney general. He doesn't answer to the city council. He doesn't answer to you guys - yes, you do have control over his budget."
Warner said if they gave up the police chief position, the council would no longer have any say.
"If we give up the police chief as a council, we have given up our entire control of law enforcement in the city," he added. "That is a concern we have. So, yes, it's been working very well so right now we don't see a need to fix it. Our officers work very well together. There is no doubt if there is ever a need in the city or county our officers will go out and help or vice versus."
Warner said those are the areas he is concerned with.
"And based on those responses and what I've seen so far, I wouldn't be interested," he added.
Warner then stated he was "confused."
"I am a little confused because I was told there would be no bond in November and you said this evening there would be a bond," he said.
Long asked him who told them there wouldn't be a bond, to which Warner replied, "John (Martin)."
Martin responded that he hadn't "communicated himself correctly" and then added, "there has to be a bond."
"I understand there has to be a bond, but I was told there would be no bond," Warner said. "I think the council - this is such an important decision we don't want to be rushed in to that decision at all."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here