The cities of Wellman, Riverside, and Kalona will continue receiving law enforcement coverage from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in the upcoming fiscal year. Each city council recently gave the green light to the department’s contract for 2025–2026.
Since none of the three cities have their own police departments, the contracts ensure that deputies will serve as the primary law enforcement presence in each community. For the cities, the agreement offers a cost-effective way to maintain public safety, while also providing access to more resources and expanded availability than a small-town police department typically could.
Washington County Sheriff Jared Schneider said the partnerships have made a noticeable difference in rural areas. “With the staffing levels we have now, we can look to be more proactive with traffic enforcement and things like that, instead of just reacting to calls,” he explained. “It also means we’re more likely to have someone available when communities need them.”
Each city will see a slight increase in contract costs this year:
- Wellman will pay $158,187
- Riverside comes in at $284,597
- Kalona tops the list at $336,451
Previously, contract pricing was based on the number of calls for service in each city. That method raised concerns it might discourage residents from calling law enforcement. In response, the department now uses a population-based formula to determine each city’s share of the cost.
