To be or not be patrolled by the Utah County Sheriff's Department. That's the issue still facing Elk Ridge leaders.
Elk Ridge has had a contract with the sheriff's department to provide police protection and emergency services since incorporating in 1976. But that contract expires in March.One of the fastest-growing communities in Utah County, Elk Ridge borders Payson on its west 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 services the office 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, some town leaders are worried that deputy sheriffs won't be able to get to the scene of an emergency quickly enough.
Salem officials have told their Elk Ridge counterparts they're willing to provide similar services - effectively creating a joint Salem-Elk Ridge Police Department - but only if it benefits both towns. Salem currently has four full-time officers and a part-time animal control officer, and officials would like to have funding for a fifth full-time officer.
But leaders in other cities, including Payson, have also begun discussions with Elk Ridge - and Utah County sheriff's officials would still like to make their pitch.
Although the issue has been brewing since Thanksgiving, the previous Elk Ridge administration deferred on taking action until two new councilmen, Scot Sessions and Jim Nicolet, and a new mayor, Lynn Jacobson, took office in January.
"We're trying not to rush into anything," Jacobson said. "We've had a contract with the county for a long time, and we need to give things some thought before we change that."
Jacobson said he believes discussions will continue until at least February, and the issue may not be resolved until the current contract expires.
Similar arrangements have been made elsewhere in the south county. Santaquin leaders mulled over a contract proposal from the county for more than six weeks before opting to keep their three-officer force intact - and later added a fourth full-time officer.