By Steven Spencer
The Village Hardin turned down an intergovernmental agreement between the village and Calhoun County at the village’s regular board meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The agreement was presented by the county requesting assistance in funding the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office by covering the salary of a deputy and some of the cost associated with a squad car.
County Commissioners Phil Robeen and Terry Woelfel, as well as Chief Deputy Zach Hardin, approached the village earlier this summer to request approximately $54,000 to cover the cost of a deputy.
Following a closed session, the board returned to discuss the intergovernmental agreement as well as personnel matters.
Mayor Dave Hurley said the board discussed a meeting that was held with some county board members as well as the State’s Attorney. Based on that discussion and the discussion among the village board, the village decided to turn down the intergovernmental agreement.
“We’ve decided to reject the IGA with the county,” Hurley said.
Mayor Hurley also said that village personnel was also discussed during the closed session. The board has agreed to review the job description and duties of all village employees to determine future raises and compensation.
During the Calhoun County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Commissioner Robeen said he was disappointed in the decision and said it puts the county and the police force in a bad spot.
“Majority of our time is spent right here in Hardin and Hardin no longer provides a police force,” Robeen said. “I don’t know that it’s a dead issue but right now they haven’t committed any funding for us. We are going to do the best we can with the money that we have to fund the Sheriff’s Department.”
Robeen said it will be difficult and the county will have to keep a close eye on the budgeting for the department, as they can’t go beyond the budgeted number, and will possibly have to look at a reduction in the next fiscal year.
“We are really here to serve the whole county, but traditionally your county force serves unincorporated areas. As long as we have the manpower, we are of course going to respond to every call we can but it’s obviously going to get tough.”
The county said they’re still in talks with the Village of Kampsville to help cover some of the costs.