City and township areas in Pine County that request extra police patrol must maintain a set minimum number of hours requesting deputy service. That was the mandate passed by the Pine County Board of Commissioners at its October 20 regular meeting.

On a motion from Doug Carlson, District 5, the board agreed that areas serviced by the Pine County police force for extra protection must “maintain the same hours they have now as a minimum and no less.” Chairman Ed Montbriand, District 2, asserted, “We need to maintain a minimum.”

While the sheriff’s department is responsible for all police calls received within the county, some of the more populated areas have contracted for extra deputy patrol during certain time periods. Both Pine City and Hinckley have contracted extra police coverage for 70 hours per week at 10 hours a day; Sandstone contracts for 42 hours per week at seven days a week; and Windemere Township has agreed to 16 hours per week during the weekends.

“It’s been a good relationship,” said county coordinator Mark LeBrun. “The cities benefit greatly.”

The decision to enforce minimum hours of deputy patrol came after a lengthy discussion over whether cities and townships should be allowed to alter contracts with regard to recent increased hourly charges for service. In July the board approved a $42 per hour fee to cities and townships in contract with the sheriff department, effective 2010. This is a nearly $4 increase from its current $36.50 charge for services.

Following a Pine City council request asking the board to spread the raise over two years, it was decided to place the hourly rate at $39.25 for 2010 and raise it to $42 in 2011.

The city of Hinckley took issue with the new rates and sought to adjust its contract hours with the sheriff’s office. Hinckley specifically questions which entity is responsible for covering officer travel to and from the city for duty. “It sounds to me like it’s a problem with Hinckley not wanting to pay the officer for time driving to and from town,” said Montbriand. “It’s a lot more costly to have your own police force,” he said.

“I can’t tell (deputies) where to live,” said Officer Steve Ovick, who is concerned with providing proper service. He looked to the long-term budget of the county sheriff’s department and asked the board to decide whether “the cities can manipulate their own hours.”

Hinckley feels “they’re not getting their money’s worth,” said Steve Chaffee, District 3. “I would like to see Hinckley and the sheriff’s department sit down and come to an agreement, a workable solution.” It was decided that Curt Rossow, District 4, and officials from the sheriff’s department and Hinckley meet to reach a solution over deputy duty time to and from Hinckley.

While the board has mandated a minimum number of contract hours for extra protection, Carlson noted that the city areas can request with the sheriff’s office additional hours of patrol. “The minimum hours are hours we agreed to,” he said.

Other business

The board approved a resolution authorizing transfer of tax-forfeit land proceeds into the county general fund. It was agreed to transfer about $94,000 from the tax-forfeit fund into the general revenue fund.

Minnesota statute 282.08, section 4, “Allows for a portion of the net proceeds from the sale or rental of tax-forfeited lands to replace all or a portion of the amount of county program aid or credit reimbursement that the county was to receive but did not due to aid cuts or unallotments from the state.”

The board approved an agreement between the state and county for the 2010 Minnesota Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program Maintenance and Grooming Grant. The agreement calls for the state to disburse $67,780 in grant funds to the county which disburses the amount to local clubs for recreational trail maintenance. The county agrees to maintain the trails for safe use in accordance with the guidelines contained within the current program maintenance and grooming manual.