Nowthen won't hire patrol officer

The city says it can't afford its own full-time officer. It's the last community relying on the Anoka County sheriff's roving patrol.

By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune

Last update: May 27, 2009 - 12:34 AM

After looking at the cost, the fledgling city of Nowthen has decided it can't afford to hire its own patrol officer.

The idea was tabled indefinitely at a recent public meeting after reviewing two police contract bids, said Council Member Harlan Meyer. Both bids, by the Anoka County sheriff and neighboring Ramsey, cost more than $215,000 a year.

"We will look at it in the future as far as our finances will permit," said Mayor Bill Schulz. He said he didn't know if that would happen in 2010. "We are in a quandary like a lot of cities, as far as finances are concerned," he said. "We are doing all we can to work with taxpayers and satisfy our community needs."

"We have to figure out how we are going to pay for it," added Meyer. "Every council member is for it, but at the same time we have to listen to what our constituents want."

Until finances permit, a roving sheriff's deputy, who patrols from Hwy. 65 west to the Sherburne County line, will roll occasionally through the rural town, same as before Burns Township became Nowthen last July. Unless they are handling another call, deputies continue to respond to routine calls from Nowthen's more than 4,300 residents, officials said.

Only city not paying for extra police

The Sheriff's Office said Nowthen is the only community receiving police service at no direct cost. The office provides extra police service at a contracted fee to Linwood Township and six cities: Andover, Oak Grove, Ham Lake, Bethel, East Bethel and Columbus.

County Sheriff Bruce Andersohn, who lives in Nowthen, said he hasn't heard back from the city since he presented a $215,000 proposal last month that would provide one deputy for eight hours every day in 2010. Ramsey police offered similar coverage with quicker backup response for $278,000.

"As sheriff it's not for me to tell them what to do," Andersohn said. But he tends to agree with Nowthen businessman Harvey Greenberg's view: "If you plow your field, you shouldn't be borrowing your neighbor's tractor all the time."

Schulz noted the sheriff's roving patrol isn't free.

"We pay taxes and a certain amount goes to sheriff's department," he said. "People don't want their taxes raised. We are doing the best we can with the money we have. As soon as money is available, we might be able to do something."

As a five-year resident, Andersohn is sympathetic.

"It's a fledgling city trying to start something from ground zero. They have a lot of hard decisions to make. Suddenly you are responsible for basic services and what's your tax base? They have a lot of work cut out for them."

State law doesn't require cities like Nowthen to have police service, noted Rachel Walker, a policy analyst for the League of Minnesota Cities.

Most of about 25 folks at an April informational meeting were more worried about tax hikes than having a dedicated patrol car, Meyer said. He said local businesspeople, with more to lose, tended to favor spending for more police service.

Nowthen is concerned about public safety, but the city has had little serious crime, Meyer said. He said 2008 had some assaults, but no rapes. Newspaper clippings show the last murder was in 2001.

The Sheriff's Office said Nowthen had 1,438 police calls, including medical calls and minor incidents, last year, down from 1,521 in 2007.

To hire a regular patrol officer, Meyer said, the city would have to borrow money or take funds from another service included in its $1.3 million budget. But the police issue will be back next year.

"Hopefully we can enact something in 2010," Meyer said.

"Becoming a city certainly has its challenges."

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658

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