Town Council renews sheriff’s office contract

Defunding the police was never an issue in La Conner this summer.

The question instead was whether the Town could afford a three per cent hike in its law enforcement services contract with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office amid fears of falling municipal revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 4-1 Town Council majority approved $331,097 for 2021, closing the books on a month-long discussion at its Aug. 25 meeting,

Councilmembers Bill Stokes and Jacques Brunisholz had earlier said there were obstacles to contracting with Swinomish, a move that had been championed by Councilmember John Leaver, who cited the tribal department’s large staff and proximity to La Conner.

Stokes had noted in an earlier Council session that Swinomish Police, with whom La Conner has a mutual aid agreement, work for a sovereign tribal government with its own codes and policies.

Brunisholz has said that it might be difficult for tribal police to patrol in a town where they have such a high degree of familiarity. He cited the advantage of the Sheriff’s Office’s detectives and investigators should a major crime be committed in La Conner.

“I certainly am not in favor of having a Town Marshal,” he said, meaning restarting a police department.

Mayor Ramon Hayes focused on the financial side of that option, saying the cost would be quite exorbitant to have our own police department.

Leaver dissented. He noted long response times when sheriff’s deputies patrol outside town as well as the cost factor, which is tied to employee salary increases. He said residents report 20-minute wait times for police service when deputies are on calls out of town.

“The police,” Stokes said, “can’t be there 24/7. We have to share services with others in the county.”

“We’re not getting the service,” Leaver said, “and we’re paying too much.”

Hayes differed.

“I don’t agree that we’re paying too much,” said Hayes, who has repeatedly alluded to a strong working relationship forged with the Sheriff’s Office.

“I don’t think it’s a good contract,” said Leaver, who suggested the matter be tabled for further review.

It appeared for a while that Council would agree.

“It would be good to look at what Concrete is doing,” said Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain. “We have some parallels there.”

“I would like to see the scope of services and what they (the sheriff’s office) are obligated to provide us,” Councilmember Mary Wohleb added.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas said that while action could be delayed into mid-September, the Town’s course had pretty much been set earlier in August when Council indicated its preference for remaining with the sheriff’s office.

“The message I got from the last meeting,” Thomas said, “was that the Town is not interested in contracting with an agency other than the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.”

Chamberlain and Wohleb then joined with Stokes and Brunisholz.

La Conner appears well positioned to absorb the three per cent police budget increase despite revenue reductions. The Town this summer realized $200,000 from its sale of the Kirsch waterfront property and last year salted away $100,000 from the cell tower lease at Pioneer Park.

In related notes:

• Town Public Works Director Brian Lease said the new Maple Hall elevator has been installed. The Council approved an annual $3,000 maintenance agreement with the ThyssenKrupp Company. Brunisholz dissented, citing cost factors.

• Lease and Thomas said a port-a-potty has temporarily been placed in front of the Morris Street restrooms in response to requests from businesses in the area. The restrooms had been closed to curb vandalism and as a cost-saving measure. “It doesn’t look great,” Brunisholz conceded, “but it’s functional. The choice is either to not have a restroom or have a port-a-potty.”

• Lease said the Sheriff’s Office has been notified of the rash of spray-painted graffiti that has turned up around town.

• Stokes suggested merchants and employees be encouraged to park in the Town and Port of Skagit parking areas for the Sept. 4 Shop Local, Shop Late event.