Village of Wauneta, county agree to new contract for law enforcement coverage

    Members of the Wauneta Village Board met with the Chase County Commissioners March 13 to discuss a new contract for the services of the Chase County Sheriff’s Office.
    Although the sheriff’s office fulfills the contract, the agreement is with the county commissioners.
    Page Johnston took the lead for the village during discussion. Joining Johnston were Chairman Tony Cribelli, Rick Einspahr, Beau Kramer and Bob Goings.
    Johnston said that the village entered into an agreement when it became tough to afford a town marshal.
    Although there’s a certain amount of coverage coming from taxes which support the Chase County Sheriff’s Office, Johnston went on to say the village contracted with the Sheriff’s Office for additional coverage by the sheriff’s office because of the “concentration of population, banks and businesses.”
    The village has been paying $44,000 for 160 hours per month and half a share of a deputy’s pickup. The contract also said a deputy would live in Wauneta.
    Now the village would like to save some money by renegotiating the contract.
    At the meeting with commissioners Dave Hogsett, Chuck Vette and Don Weiss, Jr., the village suggested 40 hours per month, no vehicle and a deputy would not be required to live in Wauneta.
    Sheriff Kevin Mueller suggested increasing the contract to 80 hours.
    The village board was in session throughout the visit with the commissioners. After leaving the commissioners’ meeting to hold its own discussion, village board members returned and suggested 80 hours per month coverage for $22,000.
    The commissioners voted to approve the proposal which will now be drawn up by County Attorney Arlan Wine, who also serves as attorney for the Village of Wauneta.
    Cribelli later said village officials will go through the deputy’s office in the Wauneta Municipal Building and take inventory. A Kelly Blue Book value will be set for the pickup the county and village own together. The county is interested in buying the village’s share.
    The new contract will become effective April 1.
Everyone on same page
    Making a change had been discussed at the past two village board meetings. While discussing the arrangement with Chase County Deputy Duncan Einspahr, current liaison between the sheriff’s office and village, Johnston said some issues came up and the village board members wanted to make sure everyone is on the same page.
    Because Wauneta is incorporated, unlike Enders and Champion, it falls under a statute making it responsible for its own law enforcement coverage.
    Sheriff Mueller said he understands that to mean the village is responsible for any calls within the village limits.
    The sheriff compared the situation to the village taking care of its own streets and roads, rather than expecting the county to do it.
    The Sheriff’s Office will respond to emergency calls, but daily calls such as a traffic complaints or noise violations, would not receive responses.
    A contract between the county and village would include all calls.
 

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