Council discusses forming police force

The Whitehall Town Council is exploring forming their own police department. They also want to examine contracting out the town's garbage service.

The governing body voted unanimously last week to start taking a closer look at both issues.

Town Clerk/Treasurer Summer Fellows said examining the issue is not about work done by the Jefferson County Deputies or dispatch.

Fellows said the biggest complaint they get about law enforcement is about the thing's residents want enforced like loose dogs.

Fellows has been in contact with the City of Boulder who has a police force and was informed their budget for the service is $202,000 and they have one police chief and two officers. Fellows said the chief has a salary and the starting pay for their officers is $18 an hour.

Fellows discussed a mill levy so that the department would pay for itself, adding the startup cost would be spendy.

Councilmember Katy James has talked with officers and deputies as well as visiting with Sheriff Craig Doolittle and said the start up for things like the vehicles, radio, radar system, cameras, weapons, office space, transport costs, bookings, and computers is something that is going to be very costly and will not happen overnight.

Councilmember Gary Housman said the town has been through this issue before and they cannot afford the workmen's comp, retirement, and benefits.

"With what we get for the county, I don't think we can compete," he said.

Taking a look at possibility of the garbage service, Hensleigh said they need to explore the issue and do what is best for the town.

Prior to voting, James said they maybe need to look at putting this issue to rest and getting some answers.

Councilmen Roy McBride discussed looking at seeing if they can get a decent contract getting the same type of service they have now and within the current budget.

Hensleigh added they may have to hire a fourth public works employee to be a water treatment plant operator and if they contract out, they could keep three.

In other business, The Town of Whitehall is one step closer to a resolution with a company that provided a chip seal service on three streets in 2017.

The Whitehall Town Council voted Tuesday to send a settlement agreement to HardDrives Inc. Construction in which the Billings based company would re-chip seal the full length and width of First, Division, and Main Streets.

Town Attorney Ed Guza said himself, Public Works Director Kory Klapan, McBride and Fellows have been trying to come up with an agreement with HardDrives that will put the issue behind them without litigation, adding that is the last thing the town wants and needs.

The agreement states HardDrives must complete the work by July 17, 2020, and give the Town of Whitehall two-week's notice prior to starting the project.