Burgin Approves Agreement With Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
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Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The Burgin City Council has approved a contract with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office to provide a larger police presence in the friendly little city. Under the terms of the contract, MCSO deputies would make up to five patrols each shift which includes checking in with neighborhoods and local businesses. A representative from the sheriff’s office will also attend monthly meetings and give the council a report.
The city will pay $30,000 a year, about what they paid for a police officer when they had one. They will also sign over the city’s 2021 police cruiser. The city has been unable to fill the empty police officer position. The money will come from salary and benefits for a police officer.
The agreement has been approved by the Mercer County Fiscal Court and the Kentucky Department of Local Government.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Monroe noted there had been changes requested by the county. The cruiser will returned if the MCSO cancels the contract by December of this year.
City officials noted that, even before the interlocal agreement was ratified, the MCSO had stepped up patrols in Burgin. Mayor Monroe said he had received a complaint about MCSO pulling someone over.
“I’ve noticed a big difference,” Monroe said.
MCSO Chief Deputy Sean Brown said once the agreement is signed, they will log patrols in Burgin. A MCSO deputy helps with school traffic in the afternoons.
It’s a one-year contract that can be renewed without a new agreement once.
“If we cancel it, we don’t get our money back,” noted Councilwoman Melinda Wofford.
City Attorney John Wood said that was only for the first year. Wood said Burgin would get their money back if they canceled the agreement next year.
The council also appointed two people to the code enforcement board. Burgin hasn’t belonged to county planning and zoning for years, and judging by several public meetings on the issue, there is no political will for rejoining it. That has left the city largely powerless in enforcing any kinds of building codes, including dilapidated properties. The city first created a code enforcement board in 2020, Mayor Monroe said, but it was suspended. On Tuesday night, the council voted to appoint former Burgin City Councilman John “Skippy” Stamp to a two year term and Cherish Moore to a one year term. Stamp and Moore will join Margie Brothers, who has been appointed to a three-year term.
Monroe said the code enforcement board will be empowered to take offenders to court.
“They’re going to start citing people,” he said Tuesday.
The Mayor said the board will make decisions on what needs to be done. Monroe said he would not interfere with board. He said the ordinance takes elected officials, including the mayor and council, out of it.
