After a few years of wrangling and negotiations, a new Combined Law Enforcement Center agreement has been signed by both city of Rugby and Pierce County officials.

The new agreement will replace one that was initially signed in 1990, and should provide the framework for the county and city to share the service for years to come.

The main sticking point in negotiations was the payment of medical expenses for adult prisoners arrested for crimes committed in Rugby, which are prosecuted in district court.

City officials felt that costs for those prisoners should be the responsibility of the county, which operates district court, while the city would be responsible for municipal court prisoners.

At its most recent meeting, the Pierce County Commission agreed to the change and signed the agreement, which was signed by city officials at a special meeting on Aug. 14.

Aside from that change, much of the agreement will be standard operating procedure.

The LEC will continue to be governed by a board of directors composed of two city council members appointed by the mayor, the chairman of the Pierce County Commission, as well as two other commissioners. The state’s attorney, city attorney and auditors from both the county and city will act as non-voting members.

The Pierce County Sheriff will prepare the budget and submit it during the second of the board’s two yearly meetings.

The agreement will be renewed on a yearly basis unless one side terminates it by giving 90 days notice.