Ketchum city officials are entertaining the notion of contracting police services to the Blaine County Sheriff's Office.
Preliminary discussions have been held between Ketchum officials and Sheriff Walt Femling, but the proposal is only one of several options under consideration in the wake of the recent resignation of former Ketchum Police Chief Cory Lyman
"Let's put it this way," said City Councilman President Baird Gourlay. "We don't need seven police chiefs in the valley."
Ketchum officials have been looking at possible changes in the structure of the police department following the resignation of Lyman, who left on Oct. 17 to direct the Emergency Management Program in Salt Lake City. Assistant Police Chief Mike McNeil is serving as interim police chief while city officials consider what to do with the department.
Another option that's been discussed is consolidation of Ketchum and Sun Valley police departments, an idea raised in the Sun Valley City Council by Councilman Dave Chase.
"I would say we're more serious about the Blaine County idea than Sun Valley," Gourlay said. "Our police department got pretty twisted about this idea of consolidation with Sun Valley, and we didn't even bring it up."
The city of Bellevue contracted with police services with the sheriff's office almost a year ago and Gourlay said that arrangement seems to be working well.
"I think that's a model we would use," he said.
Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall said officials are still considering hiring a new police chief, either from within the department or outside, but emphasized that no decisions have been reached.
"I think Baird got a little ahead of himself on this," said Hall, who expressed concern that Gourlay mentioned the subject at a meeting of the Ketchum-Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce last week.
"It's a personnel issue, so it's a little sensitive," Hall said.
He said the options will likely be discussed by the City Council at its next meeting.
"It's just all on the table and the council will have to make a decision," Hall said. "It's a sensitive situation and we need to address it right away. I do want to say that the police department is being operated very well, and I don't think we've missed a beat since Cory left."
Femling said his office is putting together a proposal for the city.
"We'll work with the mayor and the City Council to provide the information so they can make a good decision for the city and their constituents," Femling said.
The Ketchum Police Department declined to comment on the issue other than to issue a brief statement through spokeswoman Kim Rogers.
"In regards to comment on the possible restructuring of the police department, we really don't have any information," Rogers said. "You'll have to gather all that from Randy Hall, the mayor. He's the only one that's speaking to that."
Bellevue renews sheriff's contract
Bellevue city officials said they are pleased with their arrangement with the sheriff's office and recently renewed a one-year contract for police services.
"We're getting a much better service now than when Tim Green was marshal," said Bellevue Mayor Jon Anderson. "We gave him two years to get his act together and he just didn't do it."
Green, now a captain with the Jerome Police Department, served as the city's marshal until December 2007 when the sheriff's office contract went into effect.
The contract provides for a marshal, four deputies and an officer manager. The marshal now is Ron Taylor, who has been with the sheriff's office since 1989.
"Ron Taylor is just great," Anderson said. "He's really liked by the community."
The first year's contract was for $422,833. This year's contract is slightly lower at $404,226.
Femling said the cost is lower because "there's just things you can find that you can do a little more efficiently."
Femling is also pleased with the arrangement.
"I think the Bellevue contract has gone very well, and I think we've done some good things for the city of Bellevue," Femling said. "Ron's doing a great job."
Baird Gourlay
