Westover Mayor Mark McLaughlin announced recently that Westover Town Hall has been made available to the Shelby County Sheriff&8217;s Office for a Sheriff&8217;s Office substation.

McLaughlin said the substation, &8220;Allows for the town to promote the health, safety and welfare of our community and the citizens of the town. It is exciting to be able to work with the Sheriff&8217;s Office to find ways to provide for our &8216;neighbors.&8217;&8221;

McLaughlin said there are no contract involved and no cost to the city.

He said sheriff&8217;s deputies would have their own key to town hall and space to do paperwork and make phone calls without having to drive some distance.

He said the benefit to the town is the presence of the deputies in town. And the office will be available to the deputies 24-7.

He explained that the office would not only be used by the sheriff&8217;s deputy assigned to Westover but any Shelby County sheriff&8217;s deputy.

McLaughlin said he and Sheriff Chris Curry came up with the idea to use town hall as a substation together.

Over the lone &8220;no&8221; vote of Councilmember Susan Strickland, the Westover Town Council approved a contract with the Shelby County Sheriff&8217;s Department for police services on Sept. 20, 2005.

Also over the objection of Councilmember Susan Strickland, on Oct. 4, 2005 the Westover Town Council voted to apply sales tax to its police jurisdiction to help pay for heightened police protection.

The police jurisdiction is that area outside the city limits controlled by police.

The cost of the 12-month contract, which was approved, was not to exceed $34,200.

The action was taken in conjunction with a similar contract approved by Indian Springs Village to split the cost of a deputy. The deputy was to spend 20 hours per week in Westover and 20 hours per week in Indian Springs.

&8220;It&8217;s about the health, safety and welfare of our citizens,&8221; McLaughlin said at the time.

He also said input from the public has been overwhelmingly in favor of the contract