RISON - Kingsland Mayor Sharon Crosby said Tuesday she is trying to call a special city council meeting before Wednesday, Nov. 13, to vote on whether the city should renew its law enforcement contract with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department.Crosby said she wanted to call the special meeting after visiting with Sheriff Jack Rodgers on Tuesday. Rodgers told the Cleveland County Quorum Court Monday night that he may drop the sheriff department’s contract with Kingsland if he did not have word back on it before the 2025 county budget meeting next Wednesday, Nov. 13.During its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 25, Crosby said the city council had some questions about the contract with the sheriff’s department, which expires at the end of the year. Some of the complaints were about what they perceived as a lack of patrols in the city and other issues. The council decided to table the matter until its November meeting on Nov. 21. Rodgers told the quorum court Monday night that he did not know if he would support the contract if he did not have answer by the annual budget meeting next Wednesday, Nov. 13. All county departments, including the sheriff’s department, submit their budgets for the upcoming year during that meeting.After hearing from the sheriff, the quorum court gave Rodgers a “vote of confidence” that it would back whatever decision he makes regarding the contract with the City of Kingsland.Crosby said the contract asks the city for $1,000 per month and would cover all of the 2025 calendar year. She said it does reflect a price increase from last year.Rodgers told the quorum court that the money received from the Kingsland contract is split between the county’s general fund, which covers the routine expenses for the sheriff’s department, and the equipment fund.Should Kingsland not reach a decision by the Nov. 13 budget meeting, Rodgers said he may decide not to accept it since it would...
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