Council discussed law enforcement at budget hearing Tuesday

La Conner’s Town Council used the development of the 2022 budget to consider law enforcement options at its 5 p.m. budget hearing Tuesday. This often brought up topic at council meetings this year, has the group’s attention, with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office $331,000 contract up for renewal. Councilmember John Leaver has long questioned the value provided and some residents have shared that concern throughout the year.

When Mayor Ramon Hayes called the meeting Thursday, the 10 page packet Town Administrator Scott Thomas provided had two memos addressing public safety services and how those services may legally be provided:

1) continue to contract with the Skagit County Sherriff’s Department for law enforcement services;

2) contract with the Swinomish Tribal Community for law enforcement services; and

3) have police services provided in whole or in part directly by the Town of La Conner.

Thomas summarized three categories: criminal acts, traffic control and civil code enforcement. The sheriff’s office provided 2018 and 2019 La Conner crime statistics in 11 categories, grouped under property and assault. Thomas noted that property crimes – burglary, theft, and malicious mischief – predominated. The year totals were 85 and 84, respectively, or averaging seven a month and 1.6 weekly.

Thomas listed seven crime prevention strategies under community goals, led by additional police presence, officer response time and community based crime prevention.

Thomas included a five page memo on “Options for Public Safety Services” he provided council in June.

The regular council meeting followed at 6 p.m. Its short agenda included continuing the budget discussion and 2022 hotel motel tax recommendations.

The council packets for these meetings are at Town Hall and the Town’s website: townoflaconner.org/documentcenter

These meetings took place Tuesday after the Weekly News went to press and will be reported in the Oct. 6 edition. They were both in person at Maple Hall and via Zoom.