BELLE — Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman released a draft contract Monday afternoon to the Belle Board of Aldermen outlining the terms of agreement if his department were to take over the duties of the Belle Police Department.

Under the contract, the city would agree to pay $155,558 annually, as well as a Maries County Commission approved annual cost of living increase for the four officers that would be hired specifically for the city of Belle.

“If the city approves us, there will be one dedicated deputy (at a time) for the city that will be inside the city limits,” Heitman said. “In the county there is one or two deputies to cover 530 square miles and in the city, one deputy to cover 1.5 square miles.”

Heitman added that he planned to hire both Belle Police Patrolmen Brian Brennan and Jerry Coborn.

“I will have to hire more officers,” Heitman said. “I have intentions to keep the two current Belle officers if they can conform to our standards — as well as one or two additional officers. So technically I will be hiring three or four additional officers.”

Heitman added that hiring more officers has nothing to do with the city, as they won’t have to do anything with personnel.

The contract outlines the duties of the sheriff’s department, marshal and the city.

“The sheriff agrees to provide a minimum of 20 hours, up to 24 hours of dedicated daily police coverage to the city, enforce city ordinances and state statutes,” according to the contract. It further states, “The coverage shall consist of, but not limited to, calls for service, unscheduled patrols, dedicated patrols, and investigations.”

Belle Marshal Joe Turnbough’s current budget includes $4,000 for dispatch services, $1,000 for prisoner board, and $8,500 for fuel and oil, of which a portion goes to prisoner transports. The city will no longer be billed for those line items, as part of the policing services the sheriff’s department provides.

“All policing expenses will be a part of this contract,” Heitman said.

However, the contract specifies that the city agrees to continue the responsibility of nuisance abatement via the elected marshal’s office through Turnbough, or other city offices.

Sheriff’s deputies shall have the power and authority to enforce the ordinances of the city.

“The sheriff shall focus on criminal investigations, but may assist on other violations if neglected, deemed a violation, or requested,” according to the contract.

The city will be expected to provide services of “a city prosecutor to prosecute ordinance violations filed in municipal division, and any appeals or application for the trail de novo therefrom.”

The sheriff’s department will serve any summons issued for ordinance violations at no additional cost.

If approved, the contract would become effective Jan. 1, 2020.

“The sheriff’s department would assume liability for the direct payment of salaries, wages, or other compensation to personnel employed by the sheriff,” the contract states, as all personnel shall be employees of the sheriff’s department. “The sheriff’s department will also be responsible for providing workers’ compensation insurance and all other benefits to which such personnel shall become entitled by reason of their employment with the sheriff.”

The sheriff’s department would also be responsible for insurance on vehicles and deputies.

The sheriff’s department would receive at 50 percent of all fines, reimbursements, and fees collected to cover operating expenses, which shall be paid every quarter. The first payment would be due Jan. 1, 2020, then again on the first day of the months of April, July, and October.

The contract will be for at least two years if approved. After two years, the board and sheriff’s department may agree on the terms annually.

The Belle Police Department’s October budget, approved at the Nov. 12 meeting, shows $188,949 annually. That amount still includes the $27,384 school security guard line item as revenue. Without that line item, the police department’s budget rests at $161,565. The department’s year-to-date income as of the end of October is at $65,156.39, while its year-to-date expenses rest at $74,168.52.

A special meeting will be held Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Belle Bland Community Center to discuss outsourcing the Belle Police Department to the Maries County Sheriff’s Department and give the public a chance to voice their concerns.

The board will not vote on the topic until next Tuesday, Dec. 10. Belle Mayor Josh Seaver said the topic will be on the agenda, but will not be open to public discussion at that time.