Davison County Law Enforcement Contract Rates to Increase to Patrol Ethan, Mount Vernon – Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — The cost of law enforcement coverage is rising for Ethan and Mount Vernon.

The Davison County Commission voted Thursday to approve in principle a new agreement for law enforcement services for Ethan and Mount Vernon, towns that each contract through coverage by the county sheriff's office by Davison.

Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr said the contract has not been updated and rates have not changed since 2009. Previously, the two cities paid $30 an hour for 8 p.m. patrol per month, which equates to $7,200 for the year.

Under the new agreement, the cost will now be $50 per hour, with a future cost increase of 5% per year starting January 1. This works out to a minimum of $12,000 per year at 20 hours per week.

Harr said a general agreement was reached with the city councils of both communities. Ethan will continue its 20-hour-per-week coverage plan, while Mount Vernon plans to increase its coverage to up to 30 hours per week.

“We think we can accommodate whatever they want to do,” Harr said, in terms of providing officers to patrol Mount Vernon if the city wants more hours.

The hourly count does not apply to certain Sheriff's Office duties, such as serving documents or warrants or responding to emergencies. The contract must be reviewed by Deputy Davison County Attorney Jim Taylor before it can be finalized, but the county commission approved the rates Thursday. The contract would come into effect in January 2025.

Separately, Harr is meeting with the Ethan and Mount Vernon school boards about establishing a resource officer program through the Davison County Sheriff's Office. If schools wish to financially support the program, the new position would involve working full-time at both schools during the school year. In the summer, this deputy would be available for other duties at the Sheriff's Office. The school resource officer program for Ethan and Mount Vernon would be in addition to the contracted law enforcement hours that communities pay for.

Mitchell schools are served by the Mitchell Department of Public Safety's School Resource Officer program.

Miscellaneous matters during Thursday's meeting:

• Commissioners polled votes from the June 4 primary election. For the first time, a post-election hand count audit is required and auditor Susan Kiepke randomly drew two precincts and two races to be hand counted. A change in state law in 2023 requires a post-election audit representing 5% of the county's precincts by manually counting all votes cast in two contests, one of which is an at-large race of State. Districts 12 and 18 were selected, and the Lake Mitchell issue and the Democratic Party presidential primary were the randomly selected races. The hand count will take place June 19 at 9 a.m. at the Davison County Courthouse.
• Commissioner Denny Kiner and Mitchell resident and poll watcher Steve Sibson were among those who congratulated Kiepke on how the Mitchell election site was set up at the Davison County Fairgrounds, appreciating the way the 'Installation was organized.

Marcus Traxler is an associate editor and sports editor for the Mitchell Republic. A past winner of the state's Outstanding Young Journalist and 2023 South Dakota Sports Editor of the Year, he has been with the newspaper since 2014 and covers a wide variety of topics. A Minnesota native, Traxler can be reached at [email protected].