Humboldt considers departure from Public Safety Commission

By PHIL MONSON
HUMBOLDT - At their regular meeting Monday night, Dec. 15, the Humboldt City Council discussed the idea of ending its 28E agreement for the Public Safety Commission and the Humboldt County Law Enforcement Center.

“We’ve had conversations in the past about how the public safety commission functions and the overall environment over there,” Humboldt City Administrator Cole Bockelmann said.

“What spurred this specific discussion was really some things that have taken place over the last month or two. We’ve had some city employees come to me with issues over the work environment over there (law enforcement center). Mainly because of things that aren’t from our employees. They are from county employees,” Bockelmann said.

“What I hope to give to you guys tonight is a high-level overview and start the conversation on what our next steps are going to be. I’m not here to bash on anybody in particular,” Bockelmann said.

“We’ve been a part of this agreement since 1977. The city pays 30 percent of the operating budget that is really shared maintenance of the building, shared space and 30 percent of the cost of the dispatch center,” Bockelmann said.

“For fiscal year 2026 that we are currently in, it’s about $235,000.00. From the employer standpoint, regardless of who owns the building or who runs the building, we have an obligation to provide a safe and respectful environment so people are able to do their jobs effectively,” Bockelmann said. “Based on the things that I have been hearing from our employees, I don’t know that that is occurring right now.”

“We have some documented issues where there have been disrespectful comments made to our staff. Difficulty in setting up the technology component, the flex system that seems like deprioritizing our needs over there and same thing with maintenance,” Bockelmann said. “Overall, just restricted access to the facility. If you read the bylaws in the 28E agreement, it’s equal access. But our officers and staff don’t have the same access as county employees do.”

“With all those things in mind it’s time to start the conversation on what moving out of that facility looks like. There’s no good solution. There’s no free solution. There are two kinds of options that come to my mind. If you are looking for an immediate solution that’s relatively cheap, it would be city hall here in the basement. Another option would be the old fire station,” Bockelmann said.

“It would take significantly more work and would be more permanent. It would require some more investment on our part, to make that happen” Bockelmann said. “I am planning on having a conversation with a couple members of the public safety commission this week and some of their staff. At this point it has come to a head and I some direction and feedback from you guys on what the next step should be.”

Read the story in full in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!