FOUNTAIN GREEN—Fountain Green may be the next municipality in northern Sanpete to jump ship from the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office to the North Valley Police Department.

Prior to the regular council meeting on April 16, the Fountain Green council held a public work meeting to discuss moving the city police contract to the North Valley Police Department (NVPD), ending its contract with the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. 

NVPD Chief Steve Gray was available to answer questions, and several deputies were in the audience.

The proposal from NVPD includes 8 to 10 hours of patrol daily. The department would also serve as animal control whenever asked, and as ordinance enforcers when needed. The contract would cost $130,000 per year. This is $5,000 more than the current contract with the Sanpete County Sheriff and provides much more coverage. 

Gray addressed the lack of presence some residents have complained about under the current police contract with the sheriff’s office. “My goal is that we provide those hours, but you’ll never have to count hours,” he said. Gray said his officers would be on the streets and around the school, and residents would never doubt that officers are present and available as promised. 

Mark Coombs, a resident and former mayor, asked Gray about the issue of writing reports. He said that sheriff’s deputies have been seen sitting in the cemetery for hours, writing reports, which counted as contracted patrol hours. 

 Gray responded, “The more lights you see on the street, the less crime you have.” However, he said some reports can be lengthy and must be written immediately after an event. He said, “If we get complaints like that, we’ll handle it.”

If Fountain Green adopts NVPD, they will be hiring an extra officer for Fountain Green. They’re already hiring an officer for Moroni’s contract, which began April 1. The new officers will cover most of the promised hours, and the rest will be worked by other officers from the department.

After the work meeting, The Messenger asked Mt. Pleasant City Mayor Michael Olsen, who was also present, how he felt about the North Valley Police Department.

“It’s one of the best things we’ve done,” he said.

NVPD will provide a final contract to the council this month, and the council will vote on the change in May.

A discussion regarding the cement pad for the pickleball court has been a topic at every council meeting for months. This bowery has served primarily as an events venue because it is enclosed by chain link and has a performance stage and has been especially useful during the annual Lamb Day celebration. Although the pickleball court will take up half the bowery, the net can be removed and the venue used as usual, when needed. 

The original plan and bid included replacing half the concrete, but as crew cleared away old cement, it became apparent that the new pad would have to be elevated about 4 inches above the remaining half. There were discussions about the cost of making this arrangement compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act as well as other problems this would cause.

In the emergency meeting, the council agreed to replace all the cement in the bowery to make it all the same elevation, and they approved $56,000 for the job. These funds come from the sale of the old fire station.

In other news, Linda Christensen appeared before the council to tell them she had created a committee for the building of a proper veterans memorial in Fountain Green. 

The committee will consist of Christensen, City Recorder Michelle Walker, and councilmember Vaughn Jacobsen, and several other people. They’re seeking funding and will be holding fundraisers, including a Memorial Day fundraiser. 

“I wanted to do it for a long time,” Christensen said, “and decided I’d better do it before I’m gone.”