March 25, 2012 Cities receive extension Paying more for county police services at issue By SCOTT SCHWEBKE Standard-Examiner staff sschwebke@standard.net OGDEN — The deadline for eight more to the Weber County Sheriff's Office for police services or find an alternative has been extended five months to Aug. 31. The cities without their own po- cities to decide if they want to pay lice departments are Farr West, Haven would pay the largest annual cost increase, $552,609, and Washington Terrace would see the smallest, $3,886. The deadline extension from March 31 gives officials in the cities more time to evaluate whether to continue contracting with the sheriff's office, form their own police departments or partner with neighboring cities, Weber County Sheriff Terry L. Thompson said. "It helps them prepare in looking at what they want to do," Thompson said. "City officials should always be looking for more efficient ways to provide services to residents." The execution of new contracts or the termination of existing ones with the cities would take effect July 1, 2013, Thompson said. ignore it' Korry Green, mayor of Hooper, which is being asked to pay an additional $207,281, said the city council wasn't concerned with meeting the original March 31 contract deadline. "We decided we would just ignore it," he said. It hasn't been determined how Hooper can fund the increase because it doesn't have a local property tax, Green said. However, there is a possibility the sheriff's request could force the implementation of a tax, he added. There have been informal discussions between Farr West, Marriott-Slaterville, Plain City, West Haven and Hooper officials about possi- ~fe4y pooling funds currently paid to the sheriff to form a joint police department, but no agreement has been reached, said Farr West Mayor Jimmie Paoaseorge. Hooper, Huntsville, Marriott-Slaterville, Plain City, Uintah, Washington Terrace and West Haven. The sheriff's office also serves unincorporated areas of Weber County. Under a current proposal, West West Haven Mayor Brian Melaney declined to elaborate on what he is doing to address the county funding request. "I don't want to negotiate this in the media," he said, adding the WCSO has a legal , obligation to serve West Haven even without a contract. "They have to respond to calls," he told the Standard- Examiner. Response rule However, the sheriff is required to respond within all cities in the county only to crimes in progress that pose an immediate threat to life or property, said Chief Deputy Klint Anderson. The Washington Terrace City Council likely won't quibble about paying almost $4,000 more because it is extremely pleased with services, but wants to explore possible cost savings within its law enforcement budget, said City Manager Tom Hanson. The total amount being requested from the eight cities isn't final and could be reduced by as much $500,000 if the five vacant deputy positions are not filled, Anderson said. 37