City, county debate sheriff’s contract

Clarendon officials have opened a debate regarding the cost of its annual service contract with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.

The City Council discussed the matter during its November 14 regular meeting with members of the county commissioners’ court in attendance.

The current contract is several months away from expiring, but Mayor Sandy Skelton wanted both sides to get an early start on negotiations.

“Since the current contract expires September 30, 2020, I wanted Council members to begin the conversation early so that the City and County can work together to determine how much the City would contribute to law enforcement (sheriff department and jail) effective October 1, 2020,” Skelton said.

The city has had a contract with the sheriff’s office since 1981. The current agreement calls for a two percent annual increase, and the current price is $158,468.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn says he’s willing to negotiate the annual increase rate, but he says he won’t do the contract for less money.

“It’s been working very well for the city and the county since 1981,” he said. “It won’t be me who messes up what’s worked since 1981.”

Blackburn says the contract gives Clarendon 24-hour law enforcement coverage and that not having the contract would be bad for the city and the county.

Skelton feels like other municipalities should be helping with the cost.

“Howardwick and Hedley could possibly become partners if they chose to do so sometime in the future,” Skelton said. “According to the official 2010 Census, Clarendon makes up 73 percent of the population in the three cities, while Howardwick has 15 percent and Hedley 12 percent.”

The mayor said he has visited with Howardwick Mayor Tony Clemishire and Hedley Mayor Carrie Butler, both of who indicated to him they would discuss these issues with their respective councils.

Blackburn says what Hedley and Howardwick do is not relevant to Clarendon’s contract with the county.

“The contract is just between us… the city and the county,” he said.

The sheriff said the city cannot afford to fund a separate police department and that even if it could, his department would still have to provide 911 dispatching and jail services for the city.

Skelton says the city will continue to discuss the issue of law enforcement funding with the county.

“I feel certain that something can be worked out long before the current contract expires in September,” Skelton said. “It is my belief that law enforcement should be a high priority for any city regardless of its size.”