Nashua Public Meeting Thursday (02.26) Seeks Residents’ Input on Law Enforcement Service

The City of Nashua will host a public meeting Thursday (02.26) night, looking for citizen input on the future of law enforcement service in town.

The City currently contracts with Chickasaw County for the Sheriff’s Office to provide 1,750 hours of law presence in Nashua at $75 per hour for a total cost of just over $131,000 for the current fiscal year ending June 30th.

That’s Mayor Shelly Weiss, who says the County’s proposed increase of 2%, starting July 1st, would bring the total cost to almost $134,000.

That’s Nashua City Clerk John Ott, who says another option would trim their cost by over $100,000, but it also means reduced coverage.

A third option: re-establishing its own police department, disbanded in 2019.

Ott and Weiss both urge residents to offer their input on what direction the City Council should take, during the public meeting at 7 pm Thursday night at the Gateway to Northeast Iowa Welcome Center in Nashua.

Those who cannot attend are encouraged to submit their input to City Hall.

Ott says the goal is for the City Council to make a decision at their next regular meeting this Monday (03.02) night, with options of reduced OR increased contracted hours with the Sheriff’s Office also on the table.