The Traill County Sheriff's Department has expanded its county patrols to the city of Mayville, N.D., at least until late October.
Traill County signed a contract Tuesday to provide police service to Mayville for a 45-day period, ending Oct. 24. The Mayville City Council agreed Monday night to pay $9,000 for the service.
In the meantime, the city and county will talk about a possible long-term police contract, which would mean the end of the Mayville Police Department, which has been without any officers for about two weeks, according to County Auditor Becca Braaten.
Officer Jeremy Hanson resigned after he was suspended earlier this month by then-Chief Damon Bradshaw. Then, Bradshaw resigned after some residents came to Hanson's defense.
The Traill County Sheriff's Department already provides police protection to other cities in the county, including Hatton and Portland, which used to have their own officers.
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If Mayville ultimately decides to go with the county, it will leave only Hillsboro, the county seat, with its own local police department.
Moving services
In other business Tuesday, the County Commission announced it will present a proposal next week to officials of Sanford Health Clinic in Mayville, to move the county social services department from Hillsboro to Mayville, after the clinic moves into a new building later this year.
The meeting is planned for 11:30 a.m. Monday at Sanford Health Clinic, Mayville.
The county board has been looking for space for the county social services department for more than three years.
However, voters have rejected three different proposals to build an addition onto the Traill County Courthouse to house social services and other offices.
Following the latest rejection earlier this year, the commission considered two proposals, the first to lease space in a vacant former federal office building across the street from the courthouse in Hillsboro, or to accept an offer to take over the Mayville clinic building for only the cost of renovations to make it fit social services' needs.
The issue has been controversial, especially in Hillsboro, where residents have been vocal about wanting to keep the department in town.
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The Traill County Social Service Board has voted in favor of the move.
Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .
