Mullan city officials and Shoshone County have reached agreement on renewing their joint powers agreement for law enforcement services, clearing the way for formal approval by county commissioners as early as next week.
The deal represents a continuation of the existing arrangement between the city and county, with a modest annual increase. Mullan currently pays the sheriff’s office $12,000 per year—approximately $33 per day—to provide law enforcement services beyond state-mandated duties. The new contract would maintain the same structure with a 2.8 percent increase, bringing the annual payment to roughly $12,336.
City Councilman Tjell Truesdell met Wednesday at the Shoshone County Courthouse with Sheriff Shawn Wehr, Undersheriff Travis Skinner, and Commissioners Jeff Zimmerman and Melissa Cowles to finalize the arrangement. Both sides confirmed they had reached acceptable terms, though the formal joint powers agreement must still be approved and executed by the county board before it takes effect.
Background: From Tension to Resolution
The path to agreement had been rocky. In June, Wehr and Skinner met with county commissioners to review existing service contracts. Neither Mullan representatives nor city officials were invited to that discussion. During that meeting, county officials suggested increasing Mullan’s annual payment to $20,000—approximately $56 per day—a jump of roughly 67 percent from the current rate.
When Mullan learned about the June meeting through a local news report, city leaders felt excluded from negotiations affecting their municipal budget. “It started with the News-Press article, and as everyone is well aware, if we’re going to be talked about, we’d like to be in the room,” Truesdell said, according to the Shoshone News-Press.
Wehr clarified that the June gathering was not intended to shut Mullan out. Rather, he characterized it as part of the new administration’s routine review of the county’s existing agreements with municipalities. The sheriff acknowledged the value of working collaboratively with the city.
Service Scope and Cost Reality
The current contract does not specify a minimum number of patrol hours or guaranteed response times. However, the sheriff’s office estimates it responds to hundreds of calls originating in Mullan each year. County officials pegged the cost of providing those services at roughly $80 per hour when wages, fuel, and equipment are factored in.
That calculation underscores why the county had proposed the higher annual payment in June. The existing $12,000 annually covers only a fraction of the actual operating expense, leaving the county to absorb the difference through general-fund resources.
Skinner, who is a Mullan resident, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong working relationships. “We appreciate our relationship with Mullan. I need this relationship to work because I’m invested in Mullan. I think we provide a good service,” he told the Shoshone News-Press.
What Comes Next
The joint powers agreement was not listed as an action item on the county board’s current agenda, but commissioners are expected to consider and vote on the renewed contract at their next scheduled meeting. Once approved and signed, the agreement would take effect and govern the arrangement for one year.
The resolution of the dispute reflects willingness from both the city and county to engage directly and find middle ground on budget matters—a contrast to the initial frustration over being excluded from preliminary discussions. Whether future negotiations on county service agreements will include city representatives from the outset remains to be seen.
For now, Mullan residents can expect continued sheriff’s office coverage under terms both sides have agreed represent a fair allocation of costs and service delivery.