Two cities closer on policing agreement

An extension of the current police contract between Grand Coulee and Electric City is getting closer, both city council committees agree.

Currently, Grand Coulee provides police services to Electric City for $115,000 annually.

That likely will change when the new package is finalized.

Council members Erin Nielsen and David Tylor have been negotiators for Grand Coulee, with former councilmember John Nordine and Councilmember Aaron Derr for Electric City. With Nordine’s recent move to mayor, his assignment falls to council newcomer Rich McGuire.

Grand Coulee Police Chief John Tufts has been meeting with the council committees to provide information. Another meeting is planned for this week.

Last year, in an effort to find a way to pay for police services, Electric City went to the voters for a levy request. That failed.

The city had indicated that if negotiations were successful agreeing to a price for extending the police contract, it would have to go to the voters again to raise money to pay for it.

If the councils can reach an agreement, then Electric City could again seek levy money from voters sometime late spring or summer.

Grand Coulee had argued all along that it was not sufficiently paid for all of the expenses related to policing Electric City but agreed to move forward in 2015 with a modest raise in rates.

Neither side would discuss the rate being discussed, and neither has brought the matter up before the full council.

If council committees reach a final agreement, it must be approved by both councils before a date could be set for a special levy election for Electric City residents.