As expected, the Reno County Commission made no final decision about adding a position to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. The addition would include a school resource officer for the Nickerson School District.
The plan is for the district to pay 85 percent of the wages and benefits with an estimated cost of over $74,000 — more than what was first indicated.
Dr. Dawn Johnson with USD 309 explained why the district feels it needs the officer. The two commissioners present at the meeting Tuesday didn’t seem to have a problem moving ahead with negotiations with the district. At this point, the issue is only in the talking stage. No agreement has been reached.
There was a question raised by Commissioner Dan Deming over other districts in the county also wanting a school resource officer. Sheriff Henderson says two districts in the area have their own police departments, that being Buhler and Haven. The only others would be Pretty Prairie and the Fairfield districts. Sheriff Henderson says if they want to have an officer, they would need to come forward soon.
(Read more: Hutch Post)