City Council approves new law enforcement contract

HARTINGTON – The Hartington City Council Monday agreed to a new three-year law enforcement contract with the Cedar County Sheriff’s Department.

The contract calls for the Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement for the city of Hartington. The city and county have used a cooperative agreement to contract law enforcement services for several years, now.

The current annual contract is for just over $164,000. The new contract features a two percent increase, so the city will pay $167,294 during the 2024-25 budget year for law enforcement services. That amount will increase by two percent each year so the city will pay $174,053 in the final year of the contract.

Hartington Mayor Mark Becker said he has reviewed the expenses other similar sized cities have for law enforcement.

“We’re getting a bargain,” he said. “Some of those other communities are paying a lot more for law enforcement.”

The city also agreed to change its employee health insurance policy. A policy through the Nebraska League of Municipalities will save the city about $4,000 per month City Clerk Brittni Benscoter said.

Matt Dresden, who has been working with the Council to find a better rate for health insurance, said he was “pleasantly surprised,” to see the rates come in at that price.

The Council also reviewed bills. They had questions about the umpiring bill for the city softball program.

Brett Mainquist told the Council that he and his wife, Renae, were not sure how much umpires were paid last year. They paid $40 per game, though, which Mainquist said is “about $15 less than most other places.”

Mainquist said he expects the umpiring bill to remain about the same or go up slightly next year. After hearing the explanation, the Council approved the bill.

Following the regular meeting, Council members sat through a budget workshop to help prepare this year’s budget.