North Bend, county to rework law enforcement contract

North Bend and Dodge County officials are working on renewing a contract for law enforcement services for the city.

The current contract with the county has expired, Paul Marsh told fellow Dodge County Board of Supervisors members during Wednesday’s meeting.

Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan will work with North Bend’s city attorney, Tom Thomsen, on updating the current contract.

One item the current contract calls for is an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Using the August figure, the county adjusts the monthly fee North Bend pays to have the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department patrol the city.

North Bend currently pays $5,233 per month for that service.

The rate was not adjusted last year as the county was in negotiations with the sheriff deputies’ union. It would have increased 5.4 percent. This year, the index was down 1.8 percent.

Adding those together, Marsh has recommended increasing the monthly rate by $188 to $5,421.

Marsh said such a contract is beneficial for the county. The contract gives the sheriff’s office some stability in its staffing, he said.

In other business, the board:

* Awarded a bid for a 2009 or 2010 three-quarter ton pickup truck for the county’s road maintenance crew to Diers Ford. Diers was the low bidder among three dealerships with a bid of $16,357 for a diesel-powered truck. Gene Steffy Dodge’s bid was $23,088 and Sid Dillon Chevy’s bid was $25,733. All bids included the trade-in cost of a 2006 pickup.

* Set a Nov. 18 public hearing on an amendment to a liquor license application for Uncle Larry’s Sports Bar on Proctor Road. Owner Tim Marsh amended the application to remove a sidewalk cafe and add the second floor offices.

* Approved a conditional use permit for Daniel and Laurie Wobken of rural Hooper to operate a commercial kennel on their property. The Wobkens already operate the kennel on their 12-acre lot at 2277 County Road F but county officials determined they needed the conditional use permit.

* Approved a conditional use permit for Woody and Marianne Slama of rural Scribner to operate a bed and breakfast on their 5-acre lot at 385 County Road 16. Woody Slama said they hope to open to the public within the month. The bed and breakfast would accommodate up to four people.