The Hayden City Council approved a $1 million contract with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday to dedicate 10 deputies to the city through 2024.

“The county will have seven fully assigned and three rotational deputies,” Mayor Scott Forssell said. The sheriff’s office “will meet the promises they made for the citizens who came up with that tax increase.”

$544,000 of the contract is paid for by a supplemental levy that passed in November for six additional deputies.

Council President Matt Roetter voted against approving the contract, outlining his concerns about transparency and accountability.

“Where I’m struggling with this contract, are we going to get what we’re going to pay for?” Roetter said. “We can trust the sheriff. I think that’s what we should do. But we have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to make sure [of] what we are getting.”

Roetter suggested a possible tracking device on police vehicles that would tally hours spent within the city of Hayden. The tracking service would cost about $2,000 for a year through Verizon, and would provide monthly reports to the council or sheriff. That was a non-starter for Sheriff Bob Norris, City Administrator Brett Boyer said.

“We’re dealing with taxpayer money,” Roetter said. “And I’m concerned about what we get for our money. My concern is that I’m not sure what we’re getting.”

The contract does include a clause that requires the sheriff to track and report shift coverage.

“The county will also provide an hourly dedicated service report showing the hours of deputy/detective time for the year,” the contract reads. It later adds "the parties understand and agree that the sheriff may, in his sole discretion, divert Hayden-assigned deputies and equipment to other locations within the county, emergency situations, specific incidents."

Other council members shared Roetter's concern about accountability, as well as the cost of the sheriff's contract.

“I think that from the sound of it we’re looking at a ratcheting up as we go along here,” Councilman Ed DePriest said. “I believe we’ve been asked to put together a five-year plan, which sounds like it’s going to be, ‘How are you going to pay for what we’re going to want more of?’ They’re going to want more and more and more and more.”

DePriest suggested Hayden staff look at grants or options to build an independent police force in the city.

“We’ve looked into providing our own police force in the past,” Councilman Roger Saterfiel said. “It’s been prohibitive because of the cost. Call me a diehard, but I think somewhere out there has to be an innovative way to have our own police force at a reasonable cost. I agree with [DePriest] that we should be looking into that. I’m glad this is only a one-year contract.”

He said it might be in the city’s best interest to begin saving for its own police station to regain control of the cost of policing.

“In our discussion, yes, I believe the sheriff does want more and more,” Forssell said. “The sheriff has suggested we have, I believe, 26 officers on board. But The problem that I see with that is in order for us to fund 26 additional officers, every citizen, every homeowner, every property owner in the city of Hayden is going to have to come up with about $480 extra dollars in taxes every year. For us to actually fund what the sheriff wants is going to be a huge tax burden.”

Council members were also concerned that the sheriff’s office is still short-staffed and may have a difficult time assigning deputies to the city without them being called away. But the contract outlines the sheriff’s responsibility.

“The county shall provide law enforcement services for the protected areas 24 hours each day,” the contract said. “The services to be provided shall include routine daily motor patrols during daytime and nighttime hours using 10 full-time deputies specifically assigned to Hayden. One of the 10 deputies will be a school resource officer during hours of school operation.”

But the contract does allow for exceptions to two deputies on 24-hour coverage, like when deputies are sick, on vacation or pulled away for emergencies.

Emergency calls would be limited to circumstances like a fire or school lockdown, which require a massive countywide response, Boyer said.

While council members voiced concerns, they ultimately approved the contract, with just Roetter voting against it.

“It’s a shame that Walmart and the alcohol establishments are in the Urban Renewal District so they aren’t paying their fair share of the taxes that pay the sheriff’s bill. I just think that’s a shame,” Councilwoman Sandra White said. “Overall, I’m pleased with the contract and the addition of the new deputies.”

The contract goes into effect in early October and runs through Sept. 30, 2024.