Current town leaders have decided to leave the issue of police protection to the next administration.
Since late November, members of the Elk Ridge Town Council have been discussing their options for emergency and police services. The town has contracted for those services with the Utah County Sheriff's Department since incorporating in 1976. But that contract expires in March.Last week, the council mulled over a contract proposal from Salem Police Department, which would, in effect, create a joint Salem-Elk Ridge Police Department. Rather than making a decision on the proposal, though, the council delayed action until next year, when Mayor-elect Lynn Jacobson and City Councilmen-elect Scot Sessions and Jim Nicolet take office (replacing Mayor James Bean and Councilmen Hal Shuler and Clayton Creek).
Bean said he and others felt the new leaders should have more say in the decision and that they still have time to ponder other options.
One of the fastest-growing communities in Utah County, Elk Ridge borders Payson on its west side and Salem on the north. Because of its relatively small size, the south-county bedroom community has not had the funding for its own police force.
By contracting with the county sheriff's department, Elk Ridge receives the services the department gives unincorporated parts of the county, as well as an investigative division, narcotics unit, emergency response team, record keeping and a K-9 unit.
However, because of its residential growth, as well as its southern location, some town leaders are worried that sheriff's officers won't be able to get to the scene of an emergency quickly enough.
In discussions with the Elk Ridge council, Salem officials touted the benefits of their five-member force, which includes four full-time officers and a part-time animal control officer.
"The fact that we're closer (than sheriff's deputies) is definitely an advantage to them," Salem Mayor Randy Brailsford said. "We can respond quicker and (Elk Ridge residents) can get more familiar and comfortable with our officers."
Despite the initial discussions, officials in the two towns are not locked into the proposal. In fact, the incoming town leaders may also have to ponder another proposal from the Payson Police Department and a contract extension from the sheriff's department.
The police issue is not unique in the county this year. Similar arrangements have been discussed elsewhere. After their police chief resigned this fall, Santaquin leaders mulled over a contract proposal from the sheriff's de-part-ment for more than six weeks before opting to keep their three officer force intact. Additionally, officials in Alpine and Highland recently rejected a proposal from the county to consolidate and absorb their police forces into the sheriff's department while still providing nearly full-time police protection.