Newberry to Terminate County Law Enforcement Contract

NEWBERRY ‒ During the Sept. 28 meeting, the Newberry City Commission voted unanimously to terminate the existing contract with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) for provision of law enforcement services to the City.

Commissioners originally approved a contract agreement for law enforcement services with Sheriff Sadie Darnell and ACSO in 2017, for a three-year period, expiring Sept. 30, 2020.

The contract was extended another two years in Aug. 2019. Under the agreement the Sheriff’s Office would provide one full-time deputy within the City on a full-time basis, three school resource deputies for each of Newberry’s schools, four crossing guards for public schools, increased patrols within the City limits when the call load allowed, extra deputies for the Homecoming and Christmas Parades, the Watermelon Festival and to provide county dispatch services.

City Manager Mike New was asked to put this contract on the agenda by Commissioners. Noting that the contract amount in Oct. 2017 was $777,000 per year and now is more than $1 million per year, plus the added cost of health insurance and retirement increases, Commissioners expressed concern. New confirmed that the contract stipulates that the City pay the County monthly. “For this year, the monthly payment is nearly $84,000,” said New.

Commissioners asked if New had spoken with Sheriff-elect Clovis Watson, Jr., about the issue. He said he had. “The Sheriff-elect said he didn’t believe it was appropriate for him to enter into negotiations when he hadn’t yet taken office, which I understand,” said New.

“Although our current deal isn’t favorable to Newberry, I am hopeful that we can come to some kind of agreement once Sheriff-elect Watson has been sworn in, has had an opportunity to look at his budget and has time to assess the needs of his department,” New said. “We can enter into negotiations to put some sort of contract back in place whenever he [Watson] feels it is appropriate.”

Commissioners decided to avail themselves of the option in the agreement to terminate the contract without cause by providing 270 days’ notice of their intent to do so.

Following discussion, Commissioner Rick Coleman moved and Commissioner Marty Farnsworth seconded a motion to send a letter to the County to notify them that the City intends to terminate the agreement.

The measure passed unanimously.

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