Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department will be taking over some of the law enforcement duties in Calmar and Ossian

A "memorandum of understanding" has been approved that will turn over some of the law enforcement duties in Calmar and Ossian to the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department.

The proposal calls for having the Sheriff's Department hire the Calmar Police Department's second officer, Andy Hageman, as a sheriff's deputy.  He would provide after-hours coverage in Calmar and Ossian but would also handle other law enforcement responsibilities for the Sheriff's Department.

County Sheriff Dan Marx says 1,040 of Hageman's hours each year would be spent in Calmar and Ossian--half of his work hours.

In exchange, Calmar and Ossian city governments would pay the Sheriff's Department $22 per year per city resident to help cover the cost of Hageman's salary and benefits.

It's a "win-win situation" for both sides, said Marx on Monday just before the Winneshiek County Board approved the memorandum of understanding.

Marx will return to the county board in the near future with exact budget figures and with an anticipated start date for the new arrangement, which will be some time in 2017.