Transcript
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This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person — it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.
[0:00]
For the UPD Board implementation of this new formula, potentially today, this emergency
[0:04]
meeting was scheduled for this morning. UPD's attorney contacted me after 5 p.m. yesterday
[0:10]
and in our discussion did confirm my view that the contemplated formula would indeed
[0:16]
be detrimental and he circulated the draft resolution about 6.30 p.m. last night. Although
[0:23]
the prospect of self-providing law enforcement in Riverton is not something I have been
[0:27]
interested in addressing. Not interested at all, especially at this point. And I recognize
[0:33]
we would have a lot more work to do before being in a position to stand up our own law
[0:38]
enforcement agency. I find that given the circumstances, Riverton would be best suited
[0:45]
to provide its notice of intent to withdraw before this change to the formula for withdrawal
[0:49]
would take place. There are a host of issues that I have been concerned with
[0:54]
as the UPD board member now representing Riverton for the past several years.
[0:59]
I have voiced those concerns to the UPD organization, board, and our own city council,
[1:05]
and have patiently tried to work through them.
[1:08]
If these situations could improve, it could very well change my opinion and desire on leaving the organization.
[1:15]
In summary, my concerns are as follows.
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One, this net position, this change, this contemplated today on the withdrawal, the net position versus fund balance calculation.
[1:25]
To ensure that Riverton will not be penalized on the distribution of fund balance and other assets upon any withdrawal.
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Two, governance. I've said this before, but the current composition of the board now has our city with less of a voice in representation.
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The way it's currently comprised, cities that have about three quarters of the population of the service area represent only about a quarter of the vote.
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This is not representative democracy.
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Number three, emphasis on county.
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The board has not enforced the interlocal and instances where the county should be funding certain services.
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and has seen contracts or other monetary benefit too often go directly to the county
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when other vendors could provide a service less expensively.
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Number four, pooled services.
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The formula to calculate our share of pooled services is not in line with one's actual use of the services.
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All cases are used in determining a member's cost
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instead of just those actual cases that use pooled services,
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resulting in a very high premium for the use of those services in some circumstances.
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Five, assignment of allocations.
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There's not a formula that anyone has been able to articulate on how new police officers are assigned.
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There's little to any say on how new officers are allocated.
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Number six, mutual aid.
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A large benefit to being affiliated with UPD was the crossover effect and ability to draw on regionalized services.
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With hairmen now exiting, Riverton becomes a veritable island in the UPD service area map,
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with our nearest member city being some 20 minutes away to assist us.
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Number seven, financial accounting.
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We're billed at the top end for each officer allocation, yet each officer in our precinct is not receiving top-end pay.
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The differential should go back to our own fund balance or reduce our build amount to the organization.
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But that doesn't happen.
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The same occurs with any unused direct precinct budgeted amounts.
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And finally, transparency.
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This last minute reveal of critical board agenda supporting documentation is just one example.
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During my time on the board, I have and have seen also others ask for information,
[3:46]
but either get no answer or partial answers.
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Because of these concerns, I feel it very important to take this action right now
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before the UPD Board makes a change.
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That would, in a sense, box us in and have no recourse to remedy these concerns.
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Rest assured, this is not something we take lightly,
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and we will dive more deeply into this issue and have full public discourse
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to ensure that ultimately the best final outcome is made for the residents of
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Riverton. This I want to say emphatically this is no reflection on the
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officers and those that serve so valiantly in the UPD organization we
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support them. Public safety is our utmost concern and city and the city
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leadership you see here is dedicated to that cause.
[4:40]
With that I'll turn it now
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to the city council for any discussion or questions about about the either the
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statement or the proposed resolution. So I'll just kind of know kind of where I
[4:56]
got to the point where I am with this is on Tuesday evening I don't know if
[5:00]
everybody remembers in the release a meeting I asked a few questions related
[5:03]
to the change in the discussion and I asked Ryan a specific point of
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question about if this came before as because it is a change to the interlocal agreement,
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would this not need to come back before each of the cities?
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And at the time, Ryan had, you know, made a statement, and Ryan, I'll let you respond
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in just a minute to that statement that it would have to come back before the cities
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in doing some research yesterday morning. Ryan responded to me and said, no, it just
[5:30]
requires two thirds of the board, which is part of the reason for this impotent
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the immediacy of this action and the reason for it.
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That's part of the reason for me, obviously.
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I do have some concerns that I've expressed in the past
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related to the Harriman Exit.
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What are we gonna do?
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And Lieutenant Adamson has heard me ask for updates
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on what that means to my area.
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I represent the western portion of Mars City,
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which I like to call the Riverton Peninsula,
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which is surrounded by Harriman
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because most of the responses I see to my area
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usually had a branded Herman truck responding. So that was a big concern for me. So those
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are some of the concerns. Obviously we discussed the calculation. So in light of that, that's
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the reason why I'll make the decisions that I do today is because of that impeding the
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reasons why I wouldn't have to come back to the city. So any
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other questions or
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comments by the council?
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Seeing none, we'll. Mayor, I'll make a comment. I appreciate
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the moment of silence however to kind of gather my thoughts, but it's really
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unfortunate to have to make a decision so rapidly when it's a decision that's so
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impactful on not only on our community but on the entire UPD board and the
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people that work there and I have been going to the meetings for the last 90
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days just so I could educate myself and better understand how the board functions and what
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some of the issues are based upon the feedback from our mayor.
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And I support our mayor, but I would hope that at the end of the day we could come
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to some resolution that would be positive for all of us, for the community and for
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in that rapid fashion, which is disrupted when you're trying to manage a balance sheet
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that's as large as the UPD, and when it's been as complicated as it's been.
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And there's certainly absolutely improvements that must be made.
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But I would hope at the end of the day we can figure out how to resolve those issues
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and come to a positive resolution.
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I just want to say that this decision isn't being made lightly.
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I agree that I don't like feeling brushed.
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I like to be, you know, have a lot of time to think about things, but I also feel like
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we have to trust our city attorney.
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And when he says that there are material changes to this interlocal agreement that
[8:39]
will affect our city and the future police service that we have, I think that we have
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to take that council and also our mayor who's been going to these board meetings has expressed
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concern over the last few months and we just need to see some of these things change and
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like council member broker, I hope that some of these changes can take place so that possibly
[9:05]
the partnership could continue because I feel like we have been extremely satisfied with
[9:13]
our police officers and the service that we've been able to receive and so in no way do I
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feel like this is because we have not been happy with the service that we've received.
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It has to do with the contract and the agreement that we have with UPD.
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Thank you.
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There are no other comments.
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We'll look for action on this item if there's anyone that would like to offer
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a motion.
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I'll go ahead and make a motion.
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motion. I make a motion that tell we approve resolution number 1863 declaring Riverton's
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intent to withdraw a unified police department.
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I
[10:03]
have a motion on the floor. Is there a second?
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I'll second that.
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Motion to second any discussion to the motion.
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Seeing none, Virginia, we'll call a vote
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please.
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Council Member McKay.
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Yes.
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Tingy.
[10:20]
Yes.
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Stewart.
[10:22]
Yes.
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And Veroker.
[10:24]
Yes.
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Okay, that motion carries.
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Thank you.
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Appreciate everybody being here on such short notice for this emergency meeting.
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And we have a little bit of work to do ahead of us here before the 830 Board meeting with UPD.
[10:37]
Thank you very much.
[10:38]
Do you need a motion to adjourn?
[10:39]
Oh, yes.
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We look for a motion to adjourn.
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Motion to adjourn.
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And I'll second.
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Any opposed?
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All in favor?
[10:46]
Aye.
[10:46]
Okay, we're adjourned.
[10:47]
Thank you.